The Carolina Panthers have to be ecstatic with the way this offseason is turning out. Then again, when you have millions to spend, the players will come your way losing record or not.
After a 2-14 season, the Panthers have struck often in the frenzy of the free agency season, locking up their own players like Charles Johnson and DeAngelo Williams and convincing Steve Smith to rescind his trade request. At the same time, they’re trading for tight end Greg Olson and signing defensive tackle Ron Edwards. Now, a contract extension with Jon Beason is officially in the books.
Beason had 121 tackles last year, and the linebacker has been a force in the middle for the Panthers for years. He’s the kind of dynamic sideline to sideline force that Ron Rivera can anchor his defense around, and at 26, he can still play well all the way through his new five-year contract extension. It’s another nice move for the Panthers.
Meanwhile, Darren Sproles has reportedly left San Diego for another warm climate to play with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. He will fill the role that Reggie Bush would have played and gives the Saints some offensive versatility that head coach Sean Payton should enjoy.
After multiple seasons playing alongside LaDanian Tomlinson and forcing A.J. Smith to choose both or either running back, the Chargers now turn to Ryan Matthews as the main back, who had a decent rookie year with 678 yards with a 4.3 yards/carry.