Good idea: Releasing offensive lineman Tim Duckworth to sign another wide receiver, thereby adding much needed depth to the receiver position.

Good idea: Adding another piece to the inconsistent pieces already in place on the offensive line.

Of course there is the potential for bad news here, and that comes in the form of sidelined right tackle, Jeff Otah. (more…)

No need to wait and wonder, any longer!

On Wednesday, the day veterans and rookies were expected to report to training camp, the Carolina Panthers came to a contractual agreement with rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen!

The Panthers and Clausen agreed in principle on a four-year, $6.3 million contract, with $2.53 million guaranteed.

Every player reported to training camp on time, without a hitch. This is just one reason why Marty Hurney is considered one of the top GM’s in the NFL.

Update:

Carolina has also placed six players on the active / PUP list.

For those of you who may be new to the game, PUP is the Phyisically Unable to Perform list.

A player can come off the PUP at any time, but must do so before the seventh week of the regular season.

According to beat writer Darin Gantt (who is the Adam Schefter of the Carolina Panthers), six players have been placed on PUP for today’s start of camp, and will not participate.

RT Jeff Otah, RB Jonathan Stewart, DT Louis Leonard, LB Thomas Davis, WR Stevve Smith, and G Duke Robinson.

Suffice to say, Smith and Davis will be on PUP for the longest.

As for Stewart, there’s no explanation given as to why he’s missing the first practice. I can only surmise that perhaps the trainers want to take a look at his surgically repaired foot, but then why not pull DeAngelo Williams out too, as he had a similiar surgery performed?

Gantt also reported that the reason for Robinson’s absence, is a rather irresponsible one. Robinson “flunked the conditioning test.” This will give fellow guard Mackenzey Bernadeau a leg-up and could put Robinson out of the running for the starting job.

Also according to Gantt, Geoff Schwartz will work in place of Otah, while Mike Goodson and Tyrell Sutton receive extra reps at running back in place of Stewart.

The problem is that the first guy they got signed is Mackenzy Bernadeau, a seventh-round draft pick.  Bernadeau was a guard at Bentley College.

There are still eight to go including both first rounders, Jonathan Stewart and Jeff Otah.  The team is normally a little slow to sign draft picks.  Let’s just hope there isn’t a high-profile holdout during training camp…again!