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HOT TOPIC
The Carolina Panthers have boasted one of the league's most cohesive front offices over the past four years, but the team has lost Director of College Scouting Tony Softli, who headed up the last three NFL drafts.
Because he felt he'd gone as far as he could with the Panthers, Softli accepted a job as vice president of player personnel with the St. Louis Rams on June 20.
Softli had been with the Panthers since they came into the league in 1995, but took on a more prominent role in draft day decisions when he was promoted to Director of College Scouting following the retirement of Jack Bushofsky in 2003.
At this point it's unclear who'll replace Softli in Carolina.
If the Panthers hire from within, they have several area college scouts with significant experience, none more so than Jeff Morrow, a veteran of 16 NFL seasons. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said he expects the team will interview both internal and external candidates.
Over the past three seasons, Softli, Hurney and head coach John Fox have all had equal say in draft day decisions.
The Panthers have done well with their first-round picks the past three years, netting tackle Jordan Gross in 2003, cornerback Chris Gamble in 2004 and highly touted running back DeAngelo Williams this year.
They've had a few busts such as guard Bruce Nelson, running back Eric Shelton and defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison, but have found some gems in the later rounds including wide receiver Drew Carter and tight end Michael Gaines.
Softli, 46, began working in scouting when the Panthers entered the league in 1995 and took over as director of college scouting in 2000. He is credited with helping draft standouts Julius Peppers, Steve Smith, Kris Jenkins and Dan Morgan.
Softli has ties to new Rams head coach Scott Linehan. The two worked together on the University of Washington coaching staff. Before that, Softli was a linebacker for the Huskies. The Seattle Seahawks expressed interest in Softli for their vacant general manager position last offseason but he never was granted an interview.
PLAYER NOTES
--A four-year starter at the University of Alabama, offensive lineman Evan Mathis figured the transition to the NFL wouldn't be all that tough.
But the Carolina Panthers third-round draft pick in 2005 quickly learned last season things weren't quite the same as in college where he could dominate smaller defensive linemen with his rare combination of size and athletic ability.
"The thing I learned last year as a rookie is that you have to know your technique because you can't just come in here (to the NFL) and try to muscle somebody," Mathis said. "You have to come in and know how to position your body. That was my problem last year - I was trying to maul people. I think I was overaggressive and trying to maul people as opposed to staying in the right position. I've learned that technique will get you much further than athletic ability."
Although he spent last season backing up starting guard Tutan Reyes, the Panthers liked what they saw on the practice field from Mathis and fellow rookie Geoff Hangartner, a fifth-round draft pick in 2005.
As a result, they didn't attempt to re-sign Reyes.
Right now, Mathis appears to be the guy, working with the first team at right guard at between newly acquired free agent center Justin Hartwig and veteran right tackle Jordan Gross.
Gross has seen Mathis improve as a player and is excited about playing next to him.
"On paper, no one is better than Evan on our team as far as what he can do physically. So if he can get it all together, he can be great," Gross said.
Gross said it's taken awhile for Mathis to realize the difference between playing at the college level and in the NFL, but said that it's now sunk in.
"When Evan first came in it was like the sky was the limit potentially, but he had a ways to go as far as understanding what it was all about here," Gross said. "That is the biggest change I've seen. He's started to realize that he will get better if he listens and learns."
--Cornerback Ken Lucas said he realizes how much talent the Panthers have on defense, but knows it's time to prove it come July.
"We have a lot of attention on this defense," Lucas said. "But attention doesn't mean anything unless you go out there and do it on the field. I think this defense is the best I've ever been a part of - on paper. But we've got to go out there and do some great things on defense to be considered the best defense in the NFL. That's our goal."
--Panthers receiver Drew Carter has bulked up some since last season.
"He has. He's strong in his upper body," said receivers coach Richard Williamson. "(Strength coach) Jerry Simmons works 'em pretty good - and he was good in his tests on the upper-body strength. That helps you get away from the press and people putting their hands on you and things like that. It also helps you help go up and get balls, having that strength."
--Williamson said Carter is doing a lot more this year than just running by defenders with his blazing speed.
"Oh yeah. He's done a lot more than that out here. Obviously his first big thing was his speed, and he's done well with that. But now he's doing a much better job of getting out of his breaks," Williamson said. "He's had a good offseason. He had a good minicamp after the draft and he's having another good camp right now."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Keith Adams continues to work as the team's first-team weak-side linebacker ahead of Na'il Diggs.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--S Scott Farley (not tendered as ERFA).
--C Jeff Mitchell (not tendered June 1).
--WR Ricky Proehl (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--P Jason Baker: UFA; $1.8M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB; 2006 cap: $800,000.
--S Colin Branch: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--DT Jordan Carstens: ERFA; had been tendered at $425,000.
--LB Vinny Ciurciu: RFA; $721,600/1 yr).
--FB Casey Cramer: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--DT Atiyyah Ellison: ERFA; terms unknown.
--T Todd Fordham: UFA; terms unknown.
--RB DeShaun Foster: Transition FA; $14.5M/3 yrs, $4.5M SB.
--S Jermaine Hardy: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Efrem Hill: ERFA; $350,000/1 yr).
--DT Kindal Moorehead: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--TE Mike Seidman: UFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--LB Sean Tufts: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--QB Chris Weinke: UFA; $4.5M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--LB Keith Adams: UFA Eagles; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--LB Na'il Diggs: FA Packers; terms unknown.
--C Justin Hartwig: UFA Titans; $17M/5 yrs, $7M SB.
--CB Reggie Howard: FA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--WR Keyshawn Johnson: FA Cowboys; $14.5M/4 yrs, $5M SB.
--DT Maake Kemoeatu: UFA Ravens; $27.5M/5 yrs, $6M SB/$2M OB '07; 2006 cap: $2.2M.
--DT Damione Lewis: UFA Rams; $3.9M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2006 cap: $1.35M.
--S Kevin McCadam: UFA Falcons; $1.53M/2 yrs, $250,000 SB; 2006 cap: $720,000.
--S Shaun Williams: UFA Giants; 1 yr, terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--S Idrees Bashir: UFA Lions; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DT Brentson Buckner (released).
--RB Stephen Davis (released; failed physical/knee).
--CB Ricky Manning: RFA Bears (Panthers did not match offer and receive 3rd-round pick in 2006 draft as compensation).
--S Marlon McCree: UFA Chargers; $16M/5 yrs, SB unknown.
--DE Kemp Rasmussen: UFA Seahawks; $625,000/1 yr, $40,000.
--G Tutan Reyes: UFA Bills; terms unknown.
--LB Brandon Short (released).
--RB Rod Smart (released).
--CB Dante Wesley: UFA Bears; $2M/2 yrs, $475,000 SB.
--LB Will Witherspoon: UFA Rams; $33M/6 yrs, $9M SB/$2M, $4M base guarantee 2006-07.
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