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Panthers could be players in free agency
By: Steve Reed
Gazette Sports Reporter
CHARLOTTE — Ready, set… spend.
The annual NFL free agency signing period begins today and for the first time in a recent memory the Carolina Panthers could be significant players in the market with slightly more than $10 million to spend under the salary cap.
Although the team will need to save some of that money to sign its draft picks, the Panthers are still expected to pursue a couple of high-profile players in the first two days of the draft.
That would be a radical change from the three previous years under the dual leadership of general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox.
Since Fox’s arrival in 2002, the Panthers have, for the most part, waited for the first wave of signings to pass before allowing the market to settle down and for prices on mid-level free agents to fall. That approach — which is shared by the New England Patriots — has worked for the most part. But there’s a sense this year the Panthers have purposely cleared salary cap room with the intention of making at last a couple of early splashes in the free agent market.
“That has been our approach (to be patient) in the past, but every year is different,” Hurney said. “When you see a player you think is right, you go after him. You don’t want to lock yourself into one approach.”
It’s also possible the Panthers could strike a trade.
The one glaring need is right tackle, where the Panthers desperately need a big-time starter.
The Panthers tried to fill that spot last year by signing Adam Meadows to a five-year, $15 million contract, but he retired in training camp and the team struggled the remainder of the season at that position as neither Matt Willig nor Todd Fordham proved to be anything more than adequate, at best.
There are expected to be a handful of quality right tackles available in free agency, including Detroit’s Stockar McDougle, Pittsburgh’s Oliver Ross, Buffalo’s Jonas Jennings and the New York Jets’ Kareem McKenzie. The Arizona Cardinals have also made it known they want to trade offensive tackle L.J. Shelton.
The Panthers are looking to get younger at that position as well, which likely rules out 32-year-old Fred Miller, who was cut by Tennessee last week.
Hurney admitted right tackle is an area of need, but refused to say if the team will address it in free agency or in the NFL draft. One thing is certain: The Panthers aren’t going to overspend on someone in free agency just because they have a need at the certain position.
“You don’t want to lock yourself into one position and have to reach for a player,” Hurney said.
The Panthers have several other areas of need as well, including cornerback, wide receiver, defensive tackle and outside linebacker, just to name a few.
While there are plenty of teams who planned to contact agents shortly after midnight, Hurney said the Panthers will wait until this morning before making a round of calls to agents to express an interest in some players.
“Generally, (agents) have an idea of who would be interested in their clients and what teams need,” Hurney said.
Hurney said there’s a chance the team could attempt to set up some visits from free agents even as early as today. The last time the Panthers brought in a player on day one of free agency, things worked out pretty well for them.
That was two years ago when they visited with a little-known quarterback named Jake Delhomme.
Although Delhomme left town without a contract and traveled to meet with the Dallas Cowboys, he later signed a modest two-year deal with the Panthers. He’s since restructured that deal after leading the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII
By: Steve Reed
Gazette Sports Reporter
CHARLOTTE — Ready, set… spend.
The annual NFL free agency signing period begins today and for the first time in a recent memory the Carolina Panthers could be significant players in the market with slightly more than $10 million to spend under the salary cap.
Although the team will need to save some of that money to sign its draft picks, the Panthers are still expected to pursue a couple of high-profile players in the first two days of the draft.
That would be a radical change from the three previous years under the dual leadership of general manager Marty Hurney and head coach John Fox.
Since Fox’s arrival in 2002, the Panthers have, for the most part, waited for the first wave of signings to pass before allowing the market to settle down and for prices on mid-level free agents to fall. That approach — which is shared by the New England Patriots — has worked for the most part. But there’s a sense this year the Panthers have purposely cleared salary cap room with the intention of making at last a couple of early splashes in the free agent market.
“That has been our approach (to be patient) in the past, but every year is different,” Hurney said. “When you see a player you think is right, you go after him. You don’t want to lock yourself into one approach.”
It’s also possible the Panthers could strike a trade.
The one glaring need is right tackle, where the Panthers desperately need a big-time starter.
The Panthers tried to fill that spot last year by signing Adam Meadows to a five-year, $15 million contract, but he retired in training camp and the team struggled the remainder of the season at that position as neither Matt Willig nor Todd Fordham proved to be anything more than adequate, at best.
There are expected to be a handful of quality right tackles available in free agency, including Detroit’s Stockar McDougle, Pittsburgh’s Oliver Ross, Buffalo’s Jonas Jennings and the New York Jets’ Kareem McKenzie. The Arizona Cardinals have also made it known they want to trade offensive tackle L.J. Shelton.
The Panthers are looking to get younger at that position as well, which likely rules out 32-year-old Fred Miller, who was cut by Tennessee last week.
Hurney admitted right tackle is an area of need, but refused to say if the team will address it in free agency or in the NFL draft. One thing is certain: The Panthers aren’t going to overspend on someone in free agency just because they have a need at the certain position.
“You don’t want to lock yourself into one position and have to reach for a player,” Hurney said.
The Panthers have several other areas of need as well, including cornerback, wide receiver, defensive tackle and outside linebacker, just to name a few.
While there are plenty of teams who planned to contact agents shortly after midnight, Hurney said the Panthers will wait until this morning before making a round of calls to agents to express an interest in some players.
“Generally, (agents) have an idea of who would be interested in their clients and what teams need,” Hurney said.
Hurney said there’s a chance the team could attempt to set up some visits from free agents even as early as today. The last time the Panthers brought in a player on day one of free agency, things worked out pretty well for them.
That was two years ago when they visited with a little-known quarterback named Jake Delhomme.
Although Delhomme left town without a contract and traveled to meet with the Dallas Cowboys, he later signed a modest two-year deal with the Panthers. He’s since restructured that deal after leading the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII
