Inside the Panthers

Panthers to be methodical in free agency

While the Panthers have a good start toward clearing cap space with their recent additions by subtraction, don’t hold your breath waiting for them to make a big splash in the free agent pool.

First, there is a sense that Carolina can do its best work at two absolutely key positions – offensive tackle and defensive end – with its first two picks in the draft. There are a number of high quality targets at both positions this year.

There are other needs though, including running back (DeAngelo Williams can’t do it all by himself), free safety and likely another receiver. And the Panthers are paying close attention to the free agent field and the waiver wire.

"I think we’ll be active (in the market)," general manager Marty Hurney said Friday. "I just think we’ll be ‘steady active.’. "

My guess is that would be as opposed to splashy active.

Keep in mind that Carolina, with the franchise tag on tackle Jordan Gross, will take a $7.45. million hit from that. And that they still haven’t worked anything out with Julius Peppers.

And one agent said today, "I don’t think at this point the Panthers feel they need to do all that much in free agency, especially with their quarfterback (Jake Delhomme) coming back so well from his surgery."

And remember, while the team will eventually save about $7. million from the releases of Dan Morgan and Mike Walhe, that doesn’t kick in until June. 2.

Well, as Hurney said, they’ll still be players in the market. To me, ‘steady active’ means picking up a number of less-expensive free agents that the team feels can either help immediately or have been underrated by their former teams.

STAN OLSON

It's official: Jenkins gone for picks

   Shortly before 3 p.m. today, the Panthers officially announced the Kris Jenkins trade.

   The team release said it was for undisclosed draft picks, but multiple sources have said Carolina receives the Jets' third- and fifth-round picks in this year's draft.

   The release include the following quotes from general manager Marty Hurney and coach John Fox.

   Hurney: "We've had several conversations with Kris over the last couple years and decided this was the right time for both parties to move in this direction. Kris has been a valuable member of our team the last seven years and we appreciate everything he has done for us and wish h im the best."

   Fox: "Kris has played a valuable role since our coaching staff arrived (in 2002). He showed determination in coming back the last two seasons after injuries to be a mainstay of our defense. We hope only the very best for Kris."

   Jenkins, a three-time Pro Bowler with the Panthers, agreed to a new five-year, $35 million contract with the Jets, which included $20 million guaranteed.

   The Panthers cleared $3 million in salary cap room by making the trade, including a $1 million roster bonus that was due in the next few days.

Details on picks from Jenkins trade

   The Panthers did about as well as anyone could have expected in getting third- and fifth-round picks in this year's draft from the Jets in exchange for Kris Jenkins.

     This just in: The picks the Panthers obtained are the fourth overall pick in the third round and the sixth pick in the fifth round, according to the NFL. That makes the third almost like a late second. Combined with their own first- and second-round picks, that gives them greater ability to use the draft address pressing needs at positions such as offensive tackle, running back and perhaps defensive line or safety.

    The fifth-round pick obtained from the Jets essentially replaces the fifth Carolina gave up last summer when the Panthers acquired safety Chris Harris from the Bears.

    The person who made out best of all, though, was Jenkins. His new five-year, $35 million contract, with $20 million in guaranteed money, is a stunning deal for a player who some believe may never play as well as he did a few years ago.

    Don't be surprised, though, if Jenkins excels in New York. If he's highly motivated, he can still be a star.

 

   -- Charles Chandler

Is Brayton a fit for Panthers?

  Tyler Brayton certainly wasn't on the mind of Carolina Panthers fans when they thought of who the team might fly to town first once the free agency period opened.

   Unlike the "glamour" defensive ends of free agency, Cincinnati's Justin Smith and Tennessee's Antwan Odom, Brayton didn't appear on any lists of the top prospects available.

   He's been considered an underachiever in Oakland. After getting drafted in the first round (32nd overall) in 2003, the Raiders have tried him at defensive end, defensive tackle and outside linebacker. He has totaled six sacks.

   Yet there is some sentiment around the NFL that he's still got the potential to play much better. He's scheduled to arrive in Charlotte in time for dinner tonight, then to meet with coaches and others tomorrow.

   Tentatively, he's scheduled to visit some other teams, including Indianapolis.

   Stay tuned on this one. It's likely that Carolina coach John Fox sees something in Brayton that he thinks fits the Panthers scheme.

 

   -- Charles Chandler

Jets a possible landing spot for Jenkins

It’s looking more and more like the New York Jets will be the team to trade for Carolina defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

But The Observer has learned that any such deal deal won’t involve linebacker Jonathan Vilma coming to Carolina. He’s probably getting traded, but more likely to somewhere like Detroit or New Orleans.

The Jets are interested in Jenkins playing nose tackle in their 3-4 defense. They’re shopping former first-round pick Dewayne Robertson, another defensive tackle. But Robertson won’t be coming to Carolina either in this deal. He’s already got a huge contract and wants a new multi-year deal.

So what might the Panthers get from the Jets for Jenkins? Perhaps a draft pick. Carolina most likely prefers a second-rounder. The Jets have second and third round picks in the top five of each round. Either choice could be legitimate compensation for Jenkins.

CHARLES CHANDLER

Deals stretch Panthers' cap space

The recent restructuring of the contracts of cornerback Ken Lucas and defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu saved the Panthers more than $3.5 million under the salary cap. By converting some of their base salaries into guaranteed money to pro-rate forward, and by guaranteeing roster bonuses to also pro-rate, the Panthers were able to lower Lucas' 2008 cap number by $2 million and Kemoeatu's by slightly more than $1.5 million.

The extra cap room helped as they re-signed some of their own players and now as they enter the free agency signing period.

   -- Charles Chandler

Insider thinks Moss could be a Panther

    While the Panthers are likely to sign another veteran wide receiver in the wake of landing Muhsin Muhammad, most observers figure it will be an Ernest Wilford-type of guy who won't break their salary cap. And New England free agent Randy Moss, he of the 98 catches and 23 TDs last season and easily the top wideout available, is not even on  Panthers fans' radar. But one NFL insider has a very different take on things.

          "New England didn't franchise Randy, so they'll make a long-term offer," he said. "But they don't usually overpay guys. Say they offer him $50 million over five years with $20 million guaranteed (in bonus money).  Not a bad deal, right? But somebody out there will top it.

    "Carolina has freed up a lot of cap space with all the guys they've cut recently. Suppose they offer Randy a 6-year, $60 million deal with $25 million guaranteed?  Now, if the difference is one or two million, Moss probably gives the Patriots a discount and goes back.  But $5 million extra guaranteed? These guys have egos. And he knows that Carolina has been working aggressively to get better. Who's to say he doesn't make the move?"

    Carolina, of course, could spread the bonus money over the length of the contract for salary cap reasons, and our insider thinks it could work.

    "How would that be for a blockbuster?  Then you've got Jake Delhomme throwing to Steve Smith on one side and Moss on the other."

    Try to defense that, NFL.

    Don't expect it to happen, because Carolina also has major needs at positions like defensive end, offensive tackle and free safety, and the Panthers will have to spend to fill them. But Smith and Moss -- kind of fun to think about, right?

--Stan Olson

Turner unlikely to be a Panther

The Carolina Panthers need a running back. San Diego's Michael Turner, the multi-talented backup to all-pro LaDainian Tomlinson, is available starting Friday in free agency. But this match probably will never happen.

   Turner's likely to carry a heavy pricetag. The Panthers almost certainly won't get into a bidding war for him. If they're going to spend big money on any player -- and that's a big if -- it's more likely to be for a defensive end.

   There are other running backs available, such as Dallas' Julius Jones. But a wiser move could be to wait for the draft. This is an exceptional year for backs in the draft, well into the second and third rounds. Even though East Carolina's Chris Johnson's ran a blazing 4.24 40-yard dash at the combine, he's likely to go in the second round. If so, the team that chooses him there will get big-time value for their pick. 

-- Charles Chandler

Stephen Davis' finest games with Panthers

    With Carolina allowing running back Stephen Davis to retire as a Panther, here's a list of what may have been his five finest games with the team. If you remember some others, chime in.

    1. Carolina 12, Tampa Bay 9, Sept. 14, 2003: The Panthers won in Tampa, serving notice that they were a force to be reckoned with. Davis scorched the famed Bucs' defense for 141 yards on 33 carries. That included a 10-yard burst that set up John Kasay's winning field goal in OT. Named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

    2. Carolina 23, New Orleans 20, Oct. 26, 2003: Another overtime game, and another win on the road against a division opponent. Davis set a franchise record with 178 rushing yards and a TD on 31 carries. Again named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

    3. Carolina 23, Atlanta 3, Sept. 28, 2003:  In the early days of that Super Bowl season, Davis looked unstoppable. Against the visiting Falcons, he piled up 153 rushing yards on 21 tries, with a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 38 yards as the Panthers steamrolled Atlanta.

    4. Carolina 24, Jacksonville 23, Sept. 7, 2003: Most fans remember that game as the day QB Jake Delhomme replaced Rodney Peete and rallied the Panthers to victory, but Davis made his presence felt in his first game in Panthers' colors, rolling up 111 rushing yards on 22 tries.

    5. Carolina 20, Washington 17, Nov. 16, 2003:  The numbers weren't overwhelming (92 rushing yards on 28 carries), but his timing was. With Carolina trailing 17-13 late in the final quarter, Davis' 25-yard catch-and-run on fourth-and-1 kept a desperation Panthers' drive alive. Then he topped it off with a 3-yard touchdown run, scoring with just 69 seconds left to play.

    Sure, the list is all from 2003. But injuries were to plague Davis after that. And he packed an awful lot of good work into that one magnificent season, leading the team to its only Super Bowl. -- STAN OLSON

Could Moose accept being No. 3?

    With all the talk about the possibility of Muhsin Muhammad's return to the Panthers, here is something to consider.  While there's no question that Muhammad still believes he can play and can be the guy he was when he played opposite Steve Smith earlier this decade, he will be 35. While Carolina GM Marty Hurney hasn't addressed the issue, it may be that the Panthers are hoping to add Moose as a situational guy, doing the kind of things Ricky Proehl did when he was on the team.

    It also may be that Muhammad doesn't see himself in a situation where his playing time is limited, in a No.3 receiver role.

    If that's the case, it's also likely that some team out there might be willing to pay him more than the veteran's minimum to be their No.2, a possibility that would be good for both Moose's self-image and his
wallet.

    Of course, maybe that team will be the Panthers; I think there is interest on their part. I just don't think there's quite as much as Moose and many of his fans believe. Carolina has add older free agents
go south before.

--Stan Olson

Franchise tag less rare in rest of NFL

Now that the Panthers have dropped the franchise tag on on offensive tackle Jordan Gross, keep in mind that Gross is just the second player to be franchised in team history, the first being punter Todd Sauerbrun. Which means it's extremely rare, right?

Not so much. A quick look around the league this year shows 11 players currently tagged by their clubs. A 12th -- Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark, also was franchised but has already worked out a new contract with the Colts.

The Nashville Tennessean recently determined that the tag has been used 30 times on 24 players over the past four years. Ten eventually signed long-term contracts, the paper found, five of those before the season they were tagged for even started.

So the franchise tag isn't really all that rare, although it is if you're a Panther. Carolina can still negotiate a long-term deal with Gross until July 15.

In addition to Gross, this year's franchised players are Kansas City DE Jared Allen, Cincinnati G Stacy Andrews, Oakland CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Arizona LB Karlos Dansby, Dallas S Ken Hamlin, Tennessee DT Albert Haynesworth, Philadelphia TE L.J. Smith, Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs, Seattle CB Marcus Truffant and Green Bay DT Corey Williams.

But that number could shrink any day. -- STAN OLSON

Crumpler update, more thoughts on Muhammad

The Panthers weren’t among the teams that former Atlanta tight end Alge Crumpler met with – or even called – on Friday. The word in Indianapolis was that Crumpler’s price tag was too high for the Panthers’ liking, especially given the questionable condition of his knees.

It now looks like the chances are much greater of Carolina reaching a deal with receiver Muhsin Muhammad, cut recently by Chicago, than with Crumpler.

Speaking of Muhammad, here’s a quick response to the blog my pal Stan posted earlier:

Muhammad is definitely worth signing for the Panthers. He’s not yet over the hill. He’s diminished stats last season were partly due to the fact that the Bears struggled as a team, especially at the quarterback position. He never was a speed burner, so Muhammad at 35 might not be dramatically different from Muhammad at 32.

But, if you’re waiting for Moose to give Carolina a home-town discount, don’t hold your breath. He’s a shrewd businessman. It’ll be interesting to see whether this match gets made. Sure looks like it’d be a positive for both sides, though.

CHARLES CHANDLER

Some pros and cons of signing Muhammad

My friend and colleague Scott Fowler wrote in today’s Observer that bringing wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad back would be a great idea. Well, it would at least be controversial. Some pros and cons:

IT’S A GOOD MOVE BECAUSE

++Muhammad has experience in coach John Fox’s offense, is a friend of fellow receiver Steve Smith and is familiar with Jake Delhomme as a quarterback.

++He’s a strong blocker, and could be a factor in a rejuvenated ground game.

++Given the stage of his career and the fact that he already lives in Charlotte, he will give the Panthers a hometown discount--maybe even take the veteran’s minimum of less than $1. million, to play for Carolina.

IT’S A BAD MOVE BECAUSE

++Muhammad will soon turn 35; most 35-year-old wideouts are in decline in the NFL. And he is in decline. In 2004, his last season with the Panthers, Muhammad caught 93 passes, gained 1,405 yards and scored 16 TDs. He’s been slipping ever since; last season, he had 40 receptions for 570 yards and three scores.

Because of that, he won’t be the No. 2 receiver who can take the pressure (and all those double-teams) off Smith. One of Carolina’s most important offseason goals is to find that second guy. Muhammad was it once upon a time, but no longer.

++Are we sure about that hometown discount? Muhammad jumped to Chicago and the big money immediately after that 2004 season, even though Carolina believed it had made him a fair offer.

Sure, Moose played well when he was here, and maybe you like him. In the NFL, sentiment and $1 will get you a cup of coffee.

So what do you think?

Even if Carolina cuts Keary Colbert and possibly Drew Carter, they won’t give up on Dwayne Jarrett after just one season. But they can’t be convinced that Jarrett is ready to be that second receiver yet, so they’ve got to add someone.

The negatives mean that paying for Muhammad again at this stage is difficult to justify.

STAN OLSON

Crumpler coming to combine

Get ready, Indy. Here comes Alge.

Apparently anxious to meet with interested teams and prove that his knees can still withstand the rigors of playing in the NFL, former Atlanta tight end Alge Crumpler isn’t waiting until next week to tour various cities. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he decided to fly Thursday from Phoenix, where he was working out, to Indianapolis to meet with teams attending the scouting combine.

He said the meetings would begin today and listed seven teams with whom he might meet - Carolina, Buffalo, Detroit, Green Bay, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Tennessee.

As far as the Panthers are concerned, this issue is quite simple. If Crumpler’s knees are sound, he’s worth signing. If not, they’ll take a pass.

CHARLES CHANDLER

A WR tidbit from Scouting Combine

   If you've looked at the list of prospective free agent wide receivers and thought Chicago's Bernard Berrian would be a good player for the Carolina Panthers to pair with Steve Smith, here's a word of caution: Bears coach Lovie Smith isn't letting go of Berrian easily.

   Smith said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Bears consider Berrian a No. 1 wide receiver and that they'll go to great measures to sign him before free agency opens on Feb. 29.

   "Hopefully, we can find a way to keep him in Chicago," Smith said.

   However, the Bears apparently don't plan to use the franchise tag on Berrian, who, like Smith, has excellent speed and is one of the league's better downfield threats.

- Charles Chandler

Pick a Patriots receiver you like ...

    So will we be seeing the dismantling of the New England Patriots' vaunted wide receiving corps? And is that something that the Panthers might take advantage of?

    New England has unrestricted free agents in wideouts Randy Moss, Jabar Gaffney and Troy Brown. But there's more to this story. Two more receivers are owed huge option bonuses and may not be signed because of that. Donte' Stallworth has an $8 million option bonus scheduled, while Kelley Washington has a $4 million lump sum coming. Both are due before the start of the NFL year in March, and if not paid, both would be UFAs. There's little question that the Pats won't give Stallworth all that money, and it's likely that Washington will walk as well.

         Don't expect to see Moss stay free for long. If the Patriots don't keep him, he'll get a huge package from someone else, and he doesn't fit the character mold that Carolina likes. But what about all
those other guys?

         Stallworth is the cream of the crop (other than Moss, obviously). Just 27, he is 6-feet and 200 pounds, and caught 46 balls for 697 yards and three scores in 2007. He's durable and very fast, and would take considerable pressure off of Carolina's Steve Smith. Gaffney is a 6-1, 200-pound complementary receiver who is just 27 and had 36 catches for 449 yards and five TDs a year ago. At 6-3 and 215 pounds,  Washington is a big possession-type receiver who will turn 29 in August. Used sparingly by the Pats, his career high for catches was 31 in 2004 with Cincinnati. And forget about Brown; he's had a great  career but will be 37 next season. He had 43 catches, but turned them  into just 384 yards in '07.

         It will be interesting to see how the Patriots - and the Panthers - revamp their receiving corps.

- Stan Olson

Franchise tags for other positions

With the Panthers' application of the franchise tag to offensive tackle Jordan Gross -- they'll pay him $7.455 million in 2008 -- I thought people might be interested in tag amounts for other positions. The tag figure comes from averaging the salaries of the top five players at that position for the previous year. Gross's figures comes not just from tackles, but from all offensive linemen.

Quarterback, naturally, brings the biggest tag, at $10.73 million.

Next is cornerback, at $9.465 million, followed by defensive end at $8.879 million. The others are linebacker ($8.065 million), wide receiver ($7.848 million), running back ($6.538 million), defensive tackle ($6.363 million), tight end ($4.522 million), safety ($4.396 million) and punter/kicker ($2.514 million).

Gross could still sign a long-term contract with Carolina until July 15, but following that date, he's stuck with the tag for the season. And if a deal hasn't been done by now, it's not all that likely to be completed in the coming months, although still possible. Carolina could conceivably tag Gross again next year, although that's highly unlikely. -- STAN OLSON

Hurney: Gross to get franchise tag on Wednesday

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said early Tuesday evening that the team planned to place the franchise tag on tackle Jordan Gross on Wednesday.

"We tried to get a multi-year (deal) done, but we can’t seem to come together at this point," said Hurney.

By tagging Gross, the Panthers will automatically offer him a one-year salary of $7.45. million, the average of the top five highest paid offensive linemen in 2007.

The tag protects the Panthers from losing Gross in free agency starting Feb. 29. Other teams can still sign him to an offer sheet, but the Panthers will have the right to match or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

CHARLES CHANDLER

Gross would like some stability

Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross' career path sounds like a marching drill; right, left, right, left, right. ... He has switched from right tackle to left tackle or vice versa each year since he's been in the league.

Last year, he assumed he was finally settling in on the right side, but the departure of left guard Mike Wahle could eventually leave Travelle Wharton, last year's left tackle and recently re-signed, playing guard instead.

Then, if the Panthers draft a tackle, they may want the experienced Gross back on the more difficult left side, which normally protects a quarterback's blind side.

"I feel like I wouldn't be out there nervous or scared; I've been there before," Gross said. "I like Travelle, and between him and I, we make a versatile pair and can do a number of combinations.

"My biggest point is that it would just be nice to play one position two years in a row. If I am going to move back to the left side, I have to spend a lot of the offseason getting adjusted to that."

Gross will probably have Carolina's franchise tag dropped on him today.-STAN OLSON

Muhammad available to Panthers

Add Muhsin Muhammad, Steve Smith’s former pass-catching partner, to the list of available receivers as the Carolina Panthers try to balance out their passing attack.

Muhammad, a Panther from 1996 to 2004, was released by the Chicago Bears on Monday and is free to sign with any team.

He maintains a home, business ties and charitable organizations in Charlotte.

"Moose has a great affinity for the Charlotte area and a great respect for the Carolina organization," said Joel Segal, Muhammad’s agent. "Obviously, this is new and we’ll take it one day at a time."

Carolina general manager Marty Hurney wouldn’t speculate on whether the team would be interested in bringing back Muhammad.

"Things like this happen this (time of) year all the time and you work through each one of them," he said.

The Panthers need to add depth at receiver and get some help for Smith. It’s been an area of concern since Muhammad left to join the Bears after the 2004 season.

The Panthers hope Dwayne Jarrett, a second-round pick last year, will develop into a starter alongside Smith, but have no other depth at the position. They’re not expected to re-sign Keary Colbert and perhaps not Drew Carter, who are due to become unrestricted free agents effective Feb. 29.

Muhammad, 34, caught 40 passes for 570 yards and three touchdowns last season. He is 66 yards shy of 10,000 career receiving yards.

There are numerous younger receivers for the Panthers to consider in free agency, including Chicago’s Bernard Berrian, Seattle’s D.J. Hackett, Jacksonville’s Ernest Wilford and Arizona’s Bryant Johnson.

--- Charles Chandler

Gross likely to get franchise tag

Barring a last-minute negotiating breakthrough, tackle Jordan Gross will get the franchise tag placed on him by the Carolina Panthers today, tomorrow at the latest.

The Panthers have until Thursday to make the move but team officials are leaving Tuesday for the league combine in Indianapolis.

The move essentially keeps Gross off the open market when free agency opens Feb. 29. Teams can still make him an offer, but the Panthers have the right to match and the other team would have to give up two first-round draft picks.

In order to put the tag on Gross, the Panthers will have to make him a one-year offer of $7.45 million, the average of the NFL's five highest-paid offensive linemen last year.

Carolina's long-range plan remains to strike a multi-year deal with Gross.

•  The Panthers might not get to look deeply into signing former Atlanta tight end Alge Crumpler until they return from the combine in about a week. The earliest his name will officially appear on NFL paperwork showing him as released -- thus clearing the way for other teams to pursue him -- is late this afternoon. Panthers medical and training personnel are all heading to the combine and it will be essential to give Crumpler a thorough physical to check out his knees, which gave him problems last season.

-- Charles Chandler

Wharton back, but may change positions

So  Panthers left tackle Travelle Wharton is back in the fold for the long term, despite the fact many Carolina fans considered him one of the team's problems last season, since he did allow  nine sacks.

But it's possible that the Panthers intend to move Wharton into the departed Mike Wahle's left guard slot, and the move from tackle to guard is much easier than going in the other direction.  Tackles are normally more athletic than guards, and it's possible  Wharton's athleticism, while not exceptional at tackle, could make him an outstanding guard.

That would allow the Panthers to attempt to add another tackle through free agency or the draft, but would create a logjam in the interior of the offensive line. If the team is determined to develop second-year player Ryan Kalil into a starter, he seems a better fit at center than at guard, which means starting center Justin Hartwig would have to shift to guard. Since the team still has Jeremy Bridges and Geoff Hangartner with starting experience at the position, the Panthers will have a lot of veteran bodies at the position.

There also is the option of moving right tackle Jordan Gross to the other side, where he's played before, but Gross is better on the right side. In any event, expect the Panthers to keep Gross, whether with a new contract or the franchise tag. And if nothing available suits the Panthers as far as acquiring another tackle, don't be surprised if they enter the season with Wharton in his old
position.

--Stan Olson

Former Panthers guard to join Seahawks

It didn't take Mike Wahle to land a new job.

He told Sirius NFL Radio that he's joining the Seahawks, where he reunites with Mike Holmgren, his former Packers coach.

No details yet on length or terms of the deal.

-- Charles Chandler

Opinions differ on RB McFadden

With the NFL Scouting Combine scheduled to open next week in Indianapolis, there's an intriguing storyline developing about one of the draft's top prospects.

For weeks, even months, Arkansas' Darren McFadden has been rated the top running back in the draft. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. currently lists McFadden as the No. 1 overall prospect, regardless of position, on his "big board."

But Mike Mayock, the NFL Network draft guru, has a contrary opinion. He released his list of top prospects today and doesn't even include McFadden in his top 20.

Mayock says the best running back available will be Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois, whom he rates No. 12 overall. Kiper has him 20th.

"Mendenhall translates better to the NFL game," said Mayock. "He's 225 pounds and has great feet and tremendous burst and acceleration for a player of his size. My biggest concern with McFadden is that although he also has great burst and acceleration, I don't think he has the lower body strength that you're looking for in a first-round NFL back."

It'll be interesting to see how all this develops.

And if either of these backs is available in the mid-first round, they'd be an intriguing option for the Panthers, who pick 13th. The best guess at this time is that Carolina uses the pick on either an offensive tackle or defensive lineman. But the free agency signing period hasn't even opened yet, so there's much yet to happen before April.

-- Charles Chandler

Wahle to meet with Seahawks today

   Though the unrestricted free agency signing period doesn't start for another 16 days, players cut this week are available to sign with new teams.
   Former Panthers guard Mike Wahle, released by the Panthers along with linebacker Dan Morgan on Monday, is scheduled to be in Seattle today to meet with Seahawks officials about a new job.
   During part of his seven seasons in Green Bay, Wahle played for current Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren.
   There also has been speculation that the Packers, who need a guard, would be interested in Wahle.
   The Seahawks likely will give him a physical to check on his recovery from a torn labrum he suffered in 2006 while playing for Carolina.

  -- Charles Chandler

Wahle's philosophical about being released

Guard Mike Wahle was philosophical about his release by Carolina when I spoke with him yesterday -- but Wahle always has that warrior's mentality, philosophical with an edge.

    Wahle was never one to complain, but admitted in retrospect that he was dealing with injuries for much of his time here. "I played through some stuff," he said.  The most serious was a shoulder problem that affected him on and off.  He feels good now, though, and expects to be healthy next season.

    "I'm not planning on retiring," he said. "I plan to go and play another couple years."

         Wahle said he wasn't surprised at the move, adding, "We pushed money back (into 2008), and they really need to re-sign their tackles."

         Carolina gained about $4.1 million against the cap by cutting Wahle.

    "This is a great opportunity for me, and hopefully, it will work out best for both sides."

         Wahle's agent, Neil Cornrich, added, "The Panthers and general manager Marty Hurney were great to work with, but they simply have a bunch of talented interior linemen at this point, and in the NFL you
can't keep all your good players."

         Carolina has made a high priority of re-signing right tackle  Jordan Gross, and left tackle Travelle Wharton is also a free agent.

         There is plenty of interior help. The Panthers could move one of their two centers -- Justin Hartwig or Ryan Kalil -- into Wahle's left guard slot, and also in the mix are Jeremy Bridges, last year's starter at right guard, along with Geoff Hangartner, who has shown potential at the position. And they could further upgrade the line through free agency or the draft.

-- Stan Olson

No regrets, rancor for Morgan

Linebacker Dan Morgan said that he has no regrets, and no bitterness toward the Carolina Panthers for releasing him today.

"I’ve never been one to look back and regret things," he said by phone this evening. "You can’t worry about things you can’t control. If you did, you wouldn’t be able to keep your sanity. And if I let that stuff get to me, I’d have been out of football a long time ago."

Morgan’s injury problems are well-documented; I won’t get into them here. Maybe because of past concussions, he should not play again. But Morgan, who is nearing the end of rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, still has the football itch and is determined to scratch it. And that’s his decision.

He has no idea where he will play.

"To be 100 percent honest, (agent) Drew (Rosenhaus) hasn’t talked to one team yet. I don’t know where I’ll end up or if anybody will offer me a contract. But I felt like last year before the injury, those first couple games I was hitting people and feeling good, with no problems. I still feel that way."

Wherever he lands, Morgan will remember Carolina fondly.

"I’ve had a lot of bad luck, but I’ve also made some great friends here," he said. "Carolina has a lot of class. This (release) was not really a shock because of (the injury) last year."

There will be more on this and on the release of guard Mike Wahle in tomorrow’s Observer.

--Stan Olson

Morgan should make wise, healthy decision

Even though it was obvious this day was coming, it's still sad to see the Panthers release Dan Morgan.

When healthy, he was the epitome of a middle linebacker and team leader. He worked extremely hard and could cover the field sideline-to-sideline. His performance in Super Bowl XXXVIII was one of the best defensive efforts in team history.

Concussions and other injuries cut short his career here. Now, there's a new defensive leader in Jon Beason. Morgan has said he wants to keep playing somewhere else. Let's hope he makes the wise, healthy choice about his future.

-- Charles Chandler

More from Delhomme interview

    In talking with Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme about his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last week, we touched upon a number of other subjects as well.

    Delhomme is good friends with both Eli and Peyton Manning, the back-to-back Super Bowl MVPs. He’s been a counselor at Peyton’s offseason quarterback camp, and was particularly happy to see Eli lead the Giants to their remarkable Super Bowl win last Sunday.

    “I was extremely excited for Eli, and I thought what the Giants’ defensive line did in putting pressure on Brady was unbelievable,” Delhomme said.

    While amazed at New York receiver David Tyree’s late reception on the Giants’ winning touchdown drive, Delhomme wasn’t all that surprised.

    “I was with David at the (2006) Pro Bowl when he had made it as a special teams’ player,” he said. “Coach (John) Fox wanted to use everybody in practice and he some receiver for us, and did an outstanding job. You could tell then that he could play.”

• Delhomme thinks the Panthers, listed as 45-1 longshots to reach the Super Bowl by some prognosticators, aren’t far from competing at a high level.

• You can’t talk to him without bringing up horses; his family owns a number of thoroughbreds back home in Breaux Bridge, La. But he doesn’t muck stalls anymore (“no sense risking injury,” he said last year), and the Kentucky Derby is on the back burner.

    “We’ve got some good two-year-olds,” he said, chuckling. “But that’s not my priority right now; football is. That’s for later (in retirement).”

—Stan Olson

Panthers expect to reach deal with Lewis

The Panthers are expected to announce that they've reached a contract agreement with defensive tackle Damione Lewis, who could've become an unrestricted free agent later this month.

He becomes the first prospective free agent to agree to re-sign with Carolina. They're also trying to strike deals with others, including offensive tackle Jordan Gross.

Lewis was a valuable reserve for the Panthers last season, and started twice. He tied for the team lead in sacks with 3 1/2.

 

   -- Charles Chandler

Looking closer at Peppers

What will the Panthers do with Julius Peppers?

He enters the last season of his rookie contract (2008), and a long-term extension, which seemed a foregone conclusion at some point before last season, is no longer certain with Peppers coming off his worst season. He had a career-low 2.5 sacks (he had never been below seven before and was coming off a career-high 13). But in 2007, he was nowhere nearly as effective has he had been in the past, often having trouble against one on-one protection. He said several times he did not have a physical problem, although he was sick for about two weeks during camp. He often seemed listless.

Part of the problem is if the Panthers do nothing, Peppers will count more than $14 million against the cap, a huge chunk of the team’s salary total, which expected to be increased to $116 million by the NFL for next year. It could have been more, but the $1.5 million bonus Peppers would have earned for selection to the Pro Bowl didn’t happen, and it was removed from the cap total. But that salary, which includes a $2.5 million roster bonus, isn’t likely to be a deal-breaker if the team decides to keep him without renegotiating to see if he can once again become an All-Pro.

Do you expect a bounce-back season, making an extension worthwhile? The Panthers don’t have a lot of options at the position; if Mike Rucker comes back, it will likely be as a reserve, and neither Stanley McClover nor Charles Johnson made much of an impact last year, although some defensive ends take longer than others to develop.

-- Stan Olson

Chad Johnson a Panther? No way

Don't expect Chad Johnson to become a Carolina Panther anytime soon -- or ever.

Johnson, the talented Cincinnati wide receiver, spent Super Bowl week in Phoenix, making the rounds of the talk shows that set up shop in the city for the game. He essentially told anyone who asked that he wanted to be traded, that he felt like he was being blamed for the Bengals' struggles last season and that he wanted to play somewhere else.

I received several emails asking if the Panthers would be in the Johnson derby, should one develop.

The main reason they won't be is that Cincinnati wants to keep Johnson, and has him under contract through 2011. While ESPN.com reported that he was threatening to sit out 2008 unless a deal was made, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told the Cincinnati Enquirer that "Chad Johnson will play football in 2008."

Johnson, 30,  is one of the league's best receivers, and gained 1,440 receiving yards last season. But while he is owed a base salary of $3 million for the coming year, his contract will count $6.3 million against the league's salary cap. If he were traded or released, that would balloon to $8.8 million. So you can see why the Bengals want to work this thing out.

But it's really about more than money. The Bengals already let running back Corey Dillon talk his way out of town in 2004, getting only a second-round pick from New England for him. To let Johnson go now would be as if Carolina let Steve Smith go; you only have so many great playmakers, and at this stage in his career, Johnson is irreplaceable in Cincy.

-- Stan Olson

Fantastic Super Bowl ushers in 'offseason'

    Coming off of a week's vacation, I've still got visions of that amazing Super Bowl dancing in my head. Eli's fourth-quarter escape from overwhelming pressure and completion to David Tyree has to be the single greatest play in Super Bowl history, given time and circumstance.

    The game is up there as well. Even when the Panthers played in the big one, after John Kasay's kickoff went out of bounds late, there was a sense of inevitabilty; you knew the Patriots would at least get into field goal range, and you knew they'd make the kick. There was some of that feeling after New England's last scoring drive, but the Giants wiped it all out, with that third-and-five play the most unbelievable aspect of the whole thing.

     So if you thought the Patriots cheated in the past, you're happy. If you wanted football's Yankees to lose, you're happy. And if you just wanted the Super Bowl to be a great game, you're delighted.

     And think about that brother thing; Peyton the game's MVP last year, followed by little bro Eli. Think that'll ever happen again? Only if those two do it. There's a third brother, Cooper, who was a wide receiver but saw his career end early because of back problems. Watch him pop up in commercials now; the bro without the ring.

     Now it's on to 2008. Yeah, they'll play the Pro Bowl next week but the Panthers won't be there and who cares anyway? It's kind of like a preseason game at the wrong end of the year.

     Up next? The Panthers--and our Charles Chandler--will descend on Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, where the top 300 or so college prospects will be poked and prodded for a few days as the whole league watches.

     The trading period begins Feb. 29, as does the free agent signing period. That's when it should get interesting.

--Stan Olson

Panthers: No indication Pats taped our practices

The Carolina Panthers aren’t jumping to any "spygate" conclusions after a newspaper reported that the New England Patriots illegally taped the St. Louis Rams prior to the 2002 Super Bowl.

In its Saturday editions, the Boston Herald cited a source saying a Patriots employee taped the Rams’ final walkthrough practice the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. New England was a heavy underdog to St. Louis, but upset the Rams 20-17 to win the first of three championships in a four-year span.

The Patriots denied the allegation Saturday.

Two years after the Rams’ game, the Patriots beat the Panthers 32-29 on a late field goal in Super Bowl XXXVIII for their second title.

There have been no reports that the Patriots taped Carolina before that game.

"We certainly have never gotten any indications of that," Panthers’ general manager Marty Hurney said Saturday. "That’s all you can go by. Nobody has ever brought anything like that to our attention. You’re very careful not to jump to any conclusions on anything."

The NFL fined coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots a combined $750,000 and stripped them of a first-round draft pick earlier this year after reviewing tapes that showed they illegally filmed opposing coaches’ signals in a season-opening win against the New York Jets.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said at his Friday news conference that he doesn’t think the Patriots’ 18-0 season is tainted by the incident and doesn’t believe anything similar contributed to any of their three Super Bowl wins this decade.

But this latest report cast a new cloud of suspicion over New England on the eve of its Super Bowl XLII game against the New York Giants.

New Falcons coach meets with media

PHOENIX -- The Panthers' NFC South rivalry with Atlanta could intensify if new Falcons' coach Mike Smith is successful in building the kind of team he desires.

Smith met Friday with a few reporters covering the Super Bowl and described a blueprint similar to that of Carolina's John Fox.

"We'll be a very physical football team," said Smith. "We want to be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. If you can run the football and stop the run in this league, you're going to be successful."

Smith was the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville under coach Jack Del Rio, who was Fox's first defensive chief in Carolina in 2002.

Smith said one of his similarities to Del Rio is his passion for the game.

Beyond strategy, Smith will have to gain the trust and confidence of Falcons' players, who were spurned when coach Bobby Petrino abruptly left with three games remaining to take the college job at Arkansas.

Petrino's exit brought a numbing conclusion to a season wrecked by quarterback Michael Vick's legal troubles and eventual conviction on federal dog-fighting charges.

Smith said he's been meeting with Atlanta players, including controversial cornerback DeAngelo Hall, and described the discussions as positive. He said he let them know he'll run a disciplined program that will hold players accountable for their actions.

"I think they're excited," Smith of his players. "There's going to be a feeling-out process anytime there's a change. But they'll know where we're coming from."

Of the Panthers, Smith said: "The Panthers are a very physical football team. They had some quarterback issues with injuries and such, but they've been at the top over the past five or six years."