Carolina Panthers Brian Burns needs to sign his contract

Carolina Panthers training camp begins next week and Brian Burns has yet to sign.

Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney made a series of moves throughout the offseason to reconstruct the pass rush. Adding versatile veteran Bruce Irvin, who can play both the end and linebacker positions, Carolina selected a similar type player with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft this past April.

Florida State standout Brian Burns joined the Panthers to help boost pressure on opposing quarterbacks, in addition to Christian Miller (Pick No. 115) and the late free agent signing of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Each of the moves appear to be solid additions that will improve Carolina up front but with training camp less than a week away, Burns has yet to sign his rookie contract.

Although he participated with fellow rookies and others during minicamp earlier this offseason, without an official deal he is now in jeopardy of missing time. Greg Little, the player taken after Burns in April, joined his new teammate as the only other player left unsigned during earlier practices but he reached a deal in mid-June.

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While the extension for rookies to sign their initial deal is nothing new, Carolina has yet to face a holdout type of situation. Quarterback Cam Newton, the No. 1 overall selection of the 2011 NFL Draft, signed his rookie contract one day prior to training camp – so time remains for Burns – but the longer he goes the more fans are going to become aggravated.

At this point many probably don’t even realize that Burns remains unsigned but as training camp approaches the negotiations between his representation and the team will become more newsworthy. Hopefully he doesn’t push the envelope and signs before players report midweek.

Total value is relatively locked in based on the current monetary scale for draft picks but according to Brendan Marks at The Charlotte Observer, it is likely different incentives and language of the contract keeping Burns from putting pen to paper.

The Panthers players report to Spartanburg, SC and Wofford College for training camp on July 24 with their first practiced scheduled the following day.