Carolina locking up potential free agents before market open
Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:06 pm
Hampton, Ross start re-signings
Carolina locking up potential free agents before market opens
STAN OLSON AND PAT YASINSKAS
Staff Writers
The Carolina Panthers have signed defensive back William Hampton and special teams player Micah Ross to minimum contracts of two years each, preventing them from becoming free agents.
Hampton, who joined the Panthers in 2003, appeared likely to play a lot as the nickel cornerback and backup safety in 2004. He tore an anterior cruciate knee ligament at Denver in the fourth game, though, and missed the rest of the season.
Ross, signed as a free agent Oct. 28, was in on more special teams plays than any other Panther over the course of the season despite his late start. A four-year veteran, he played previously with San Diego and Jacksonville.
Muhammad 'big bucks,' Gibbs says
Carolina wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad would appear to be an attractive target if he and the Panthers are unable to agree on a contract extension, but apparently Washington wouldn't be interested.
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was doing a radio call-in show on WJFK-FM on Monday night, and one caller asked if the team would pursue Muhammad.
"The problem is, he's 31," said Gibbs, "and basically what his agent said is, 'Show me the money.' With him and (potential Steelers free agent) Plaxico (Burress), what you're talking about is big bucks."
The Redskins have more pressing concerns; they have yet to sign any of their 20 impending free agents.
In Hawaii, Eagles go Moose hunting
During the week leading up to the Pro Bowl, many of Philadelphia's 10 players at the game were actively recruiting NFC teammate Muhammad. The Eagles group even posed for a picture with their Carolina target.
That kind of personal recruiting happens regularly in Honolulu, though, and Philadelphia has a lot of money already committed at wide receiver (see Terrell Owens), so don't hold your breath on that one.
Notes
• Linebacker Mark Fields, one of Carolina's more high-profile free agents-in-waiting, has said he wants to return. Since the Panthers would like him to return, don't look for the current negotiations between the team and Fields' agent, Jim Steiner, to take long.
• The Panthers are expected to meet with Buddy Baker, the agent for defensive end/special teams player Kemp Rasmussen, at the NFL scouting combine next week in Indianapolis. Rasmussen, who has spent all three of his pro seasons with Carolina, can become a free agent March 2.
• The online betting service BetWWTS.com has made the New England Patriots a 5-to-1 choice to win the Super Bowl next season, for the fourth time in five years. Philadelphia is next at 11-to-2, with Indianapolis at 6-to-1.
The Panthers? They come in at 20-to-1, tied with Jacksonville, San Diego and Kansas City. Ahead of them are Pittsburgh (12-to-1), Atlanta (15-to-1) and the New York Jets (18-to-1). San Francisco is the longest of long shots at 75-to-1.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 977.htm?1c
Carolina locking up potential free agents before market opens
STAN OLSON AND PAT YASINSKAS
Staff Writers
The Carolina Panthers have signed defensive back William Hampton and special teams player Micah Ross to minimum contracts of two years each, preventing them from becoming free agents.
Hampton, who joined the Panthers in 2003, appeared likely to play a lot as the nickel cornerback and backup safety in 2004. He tore an anterior cruciate knee ligament at Denver in the fourth game, though, and missed the rest of the season.
Ross, signed as a free agent Oct. 28, was in on more special teams plays than any other Panther over the course of the season despite his late start. A four-year veteran, he played previously with San Diego and Jacksonville.
Muhammad 'big bucks,' Gibbs says
Carolina wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad would appear to be an attractive target if he and the Panthers are unable to agree on a contract extension, but apparently Washington wouldn't be interested.
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was doing a radio call-in show on WJFK-FM on Monday night, and one caller asked if the team would pursue Muhammad.
"The problem is, he's 31," said Gibbs, "and basically what his agent said is, 'Show me the money.' With him and (potential Steelers free agent) Plaxico (Burress), what you're talking about is big bucks."
The Redskins have more pressing concerns; they have yet to sign any of their 20 impending free agents.
In Hawaii, Eagles go Moose hunting
During the week leading up to the Pro Bowl, many of Philadelphia's 10 players at the game were actively recruiting NFC teammate Muhammad. The Eagles group even posed for a picture with their Carolina target.
That kind of personal recruiting happens regularly in Honolulu, though, and Philadelphia has a lot of money already committed at wide receiver (see Terrell Owens), so don't hold your breath on that one.
Notes
• Linebacker Mark Fields, one of Carolina's more high-profile free agents-in-waiting, has said he wants to return. Since the Panthers would like him to return, don't look for the current negotiations between the team and Fields' agent, Jim Steiner, to take long.
• The Panthers are expected to meet with Buddy Baker, the agent for defensive end/special teams player Kemp Rasmussen, at the NFL scouting combine next week in Indianapolis. Rasmussen, who has spent all three of his pro seasons with Carolina, can become a free agent March 2.
• The online betting service BetWWTS.com has made the New England Patriots a 5-to-1 choice to win the Super Bowl next season, for the fourth time in five years. Philadelphia is next at 11-to-2, with Indianapolis at 6-to-1.
The Panthers? They come in at 20-to-1, tied with Jacksonville, San Diego and Kansas City. Ahead of them are Pittsburgh (12-to-1), Atlanta (15-to-1) and the New York Jets (18-to-1). San Francisco is the longest of long shots at 75-to-1.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/ ... 977.htm?1c