Player Information
Peria Edward Jerry was born on August 23, 1984 in Batesville, MS where he attended South Panola High School. His cousin is former NFL linebacker Dwayne Rudd (1997-2003). He spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy after high school, and had 30 tackles and 5 sacks in 8 games before being sidelined with an ankle injury. That same ankle injury limited him as a freshman at Mississippi the next year, as he recorded 3 tackles in 6 games. As a sophomore, he recorded 22 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. He started 6 of 8 games that year, splitting his starts at left end, left defensive tackle, and nose guard. As a junior, he made the permanent move to starting left defensive tackle and earned 2nd team All-SEC honors. He finished that year with 58 tackles, 14 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery. As a senior, he started 11 games, recording 49 tackles, 18 for loss, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a recovery that he ran 13 yards for a touchdown. He earned 1st team All-American and All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (24th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Career Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | Tack | Ast | Sack | Int | Yds | TD | FF | FR |
| 2009 | ATL | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | ATL | 16 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | ATL | 16 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 34 | 6 | 20 | 5 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Transactions
Signed by the Atlanta Falcons on July 30, 2009 ... Placed on injured reserve by Falcons with a left knee injury on September 21, 2009.
Contract details
Signed a five-year deal worth a maximum of $13.25 million. It's base deal is worth $10.35 million that includes $7.555 million guaranteed. He will receive $2.4 million in playing time escalators. He has base salaries of: $310,000 (2009); $395,000 (2010); $695,000 (2011); $845,000 (2012); and $905,000 (2013). He received a $890,000 roster bonus in 2009 giving him an initial cap hit of $1.2 million. He is due a $4.42 million option bonus in 2010. There is a $1.89 million not likely to be earned incentive in the contract, and he can also increase his base salary to $2.9 million in 2013 if he reaches certain playing time qualifiers.