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The Packers decided to remove an aging, expensive player from their defense when they cut A.J. Hawk yesterday. So might they remove an even older, even more expensive player and cut Julius Peppers?

Not according to coach Mike McCarthy, who said at the Scouting Combine that Peppers will be back.

“I definitely believe Julius Peppers is going to be here,” McCarthy said. “He had a great year. He made an impact both on the field, and in the locker room.”

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that Peppers is due to make $8.5 million in base salary, $500,000 in a workout bonus, and $500,000 in per game roster bonuses. Add in the prorated portion of his signing bonus, and he’ll cost $12 million against Green Bay’s salary cap in 2015.

That’s a lot of money for a 35-year-old. But the Packers think Peppers is worth that money.