NFL: Carolina Panthers news...

[The_Dude]

via Yahoo! Sports:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers re-signed linebacker Na'il Diggs to a one-year contract on Friday.

Diggs started 10 games at outside linebacker and had 68 tackles last season, his first with Carolina after spending the first six years of his career with Green Bay.

The move means Carolina is set to return 21 of 22 starters from last year's team that went 8-8. Only safety Shaun Williams, who like Diggs became an unrestricted free agent Friday, is unsigned.

The Panthers on Friday also released safety Kevin McCadam, who played mostly on special teams last season.

[The_Dude]

via Yahoo! Sports:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers don't expect to throw big money at free agents this month.

They've already made perhaps their riskiest move by keeping one of their own players.

As NFL free agency began Friday, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney defended his decision a day earlier to restructure linebacker Dan Morgan's contract and keep him on the roster despite his history of concussions.

"In December he was cleared by what we're told was one of the most respected concussion specialists in the league," Hurney said. "At the Senior Bowl, I met with his agent (Drew Rosenhaus) and he said Dan wanted to play for the Panthers again and wanted to continue playing in the NFL, period. Our doctors had been reviewing all the battery of tests Dan went through and had been in touch with the concussion specialist."

Still, the final decision wasn't made until this week, after Hurney met with Morgan, Rosenhaus, coach John Fox and team doctors.

"Our doctors went over all the pertinent information with Dan and his agent," Hurney said. "At that point, Dan reiterated that he wanted to continue his playing career and play for us."

Morgan has suffered at least five concussions since 2003, including two in less than a month last year. After the second concussion -- in the season opener against Atlanta -- doctors told him to sit out the rest of the season.

Studies have shown that players who have suffered multiple concussions are susceptible to more concussions with less contact. There are also concerns about the long-term affects.

The New York Times reported in January that brain damage caused on the football field ultimately led to the suicide of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters. Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said he believes multiple concussions have left him absent-minded and frequently depressed.

But Morgan, a Pro Bowl pick in 2004, has said he has no reservations about returning.

"Not at all. I feel fine and from the outside people are always going to draw their own conclusions about how I feel and what happened," Morgan said in January. "But I feel great. I've had a lot of time to heal up. I feel ready to play and I'm excited to come back next season."

With Morgan returning and with linebacker Na'il Diggs signing a one-year contract Friday, the Panthers are bringing back 21 of 22 starters from last year's disappointing 8-8 team.

"Sometimes human nature is trying to tear everything apart when there is disappointment, but I don't think that's the right way to go," Hurney said. "I think we feel good about our nucleus. It's when you keep that and you can add key components in the draft and try to get some rights, if they're there, in free agency, I think we can improve as a football team."

The Panthers will probably try to sign another linebacker as insurance for Morgan. The Panthers also need help on the offensive line, at tight end and in the return game. But Hurney is content to sit out the first two weeks of free agency when most of the big deals happen.

It's unlike last year, when the Panthers gave big contracts to free agents Keyshawn Johnson, Justin Hartwig and Maake Kemoeatu.

"We kind of broke character with what our plan was with free-agency over the past few years and we were a little aggressive in free agency and made some bold moves," Hurney said. "But we did that because we thought that was the best time to do it and those deals would hold up over time.

"We really had planned for quite some time not be going into the high waters of free agency this year."

[The_Dude]

via Yahoo! Sports:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers released backup quarterback Chris Weinke on Tuesday.

Weinke, a former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State, hadn't been a regular starter since his rookie year in 2001. Weinke struggled when he replaced injured starter Jake Delhomme in three games late last season, throwing two touchdown passes and four interceptions. He had a passer rating of only 67.4.


The 34-year-old Weinke, Carolina's fourth-round draft pick in 2001, started 15 games his rookie season when Carolina went 1-15. He was replaced by Rodney Peete at the beginning of the 2002 season, and Jake Delhomme became the full-time starter a year later.

Weinke played in only 12 games the past five seasons.

The move means Carolina will likely sign another quarterback to back up Delhomme next season. The Panthers signed Brett Basanez last week, but he is expected to be the No. 3 quarterback.

Weinke played minor league baseball for six years after high school before enrolling at Florida State. He won the Heisman Trophy as a 28-year-old senior in 2000.

[The_Dude]

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Panthers have not done much shopping in the free agent showroom. On Friday, they purchased a used Carr.

Released by the Houston Texans on March 23, quarterback David Carr signed a two-year contract with the Panthers.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, Carr never lived up to expectations with the Texans, passing for 13,391 yards and 59 touchdowns with 65 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 75.5. But he also never had the benefit of playing behind a strong offensive line and was sacked 249 times in 76 games.

In Carolina, Carr, 27, will serve as a backup to Jake Delhomme.

"It's a case where we were obviously looking for someone to come in and back up Jake and the opportunity to get a quarterback the caliber of David in free agency is unique," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "We thought it was a good opportunity for us."

Last month, Carolina released quarterback Chris Weinke, who had been with the team since 2001.

Houston released Carr after acquiring Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons for draft picks.

Carr ranked 15th in passer rating (82.1) last season, completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,767 yards and 11 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.

The move means the Panthers have the top two picks from the 2002 draft - Carr and Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers.