Packers free agency: Rob Francois to stay with Green Bay, according to PFT

According to Pro Football Talk, the Green Bay Packers have worked out a one-year deal with backup inside linebacker and special teams ace Rob Francois to keep him in Green Bay.

LB Robert Francois signs one-year deal to stay with Packers, per league source.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 15, 2013

While Francois didn't see any time at inside linebacker during the season, he was one of the Packers' best special teams players, and his impact in that area of the game was likely what caused the team to bring him back. They opted not to give him a restricted free agent tender, which would have cost them $1.3 million at the lowest tender amount, so it's likely that Francois' new deal is for less than that.

This news comes as no surprise, given that the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the Packers and Francois were close to a deal earlier in the day. He's a fantastic special teams player, so I'm happy he'll be back in camp with a chance to make the team next season.