Panthers Gab

The National Football Post reports that the Panthers today inked cornerback Marcus Hudson:

The Carolina Panthers continued their low-budget approach to free agency, signing cornerback Marcus Hudson to a one-year contract on the heels of the deal for reserve offensive lineman Rob Pettiti.

Hudson is viewed as a solid special teams contributor. As Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald notes, he played for the San Francisco 49ers previously and that is where the Panthers assistant special teams coach Jeff Rodgers comes from.

Hudson appeared in 48 games for San Francisco and when he played on defense it was primarily in the sub packages

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The Panthers roster moving continued today, as the team released fullback Brad Hoover:

One of the outstanding aspects of Twitter is that players can break their own news.

Panthers safety Chris Harris had a scoop Monday for OCNN to envy, saying that long-time Panthers fullback Brad Hoover was cut.

“Well we just had another because your 30 casualty on the panthers roster. Brad Hoover you will be missed my man,” Harris wrote.

We haven’t received confirmation on the release yet, but it appears that Hoover is gone. Veterans like Harris are starting to wonder what’s going on in Carolina.

“Makes me think? What is our number 1 priority this season,” Harris said. “I know what mine is.”

Two years ago the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South and were well on their way to making a splash in the playoffs. Then disaster struck when QB Jake Delhomme had one of the worst games of his career in that playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite that, he got a huge deal that offseason, only this past year to have his worst career as the Panthers QB, and as free agency starts, the season has cost him his spot on the teams roster. The Panthers have released Delhomme, opening the door to either go after a QB or to give the starting job to young QB Matt Moore.

Delhomme’s agent, Rick Smith, confirmed the move and said Delhomme would wait until Friday to talk to reporters. General manager Marty Hurney didn’t respond to numerous messages seeking comment. Entering the 2009 season, the Panthers committed to Delhomme giving him a new deal in which he’s still owed more than $12.5 million in guaranteed money.

Delhomme had no legitimate competition in training camp, but then had a miserable 2009 season. After throwing a career-high 18 interceptions, Delhomme was sidelined with a broken finger.

Now the 35-year-old Delhomme is out of work, ending his career in Carolina with a 58-40 record as a starter that included a trip to the Super Bowl and an appearance in the NFC championship game after the 2005 season.

The Charlotte Observer reports that it looks as if the Panthers could give QB Matt Moore a first round tender, making sure they don’t lose him in free agency:

Quarterback Matt Moore, at the start of camp, the Panthers had to wonder if he’d amount to anything after he regressed during 2008, but his late-season show last year was an eye-opener, and the Panthers have declared there will be some degree of competition between Moore and Jake Delhomme this year. If Moore played in meaningful games the way he has in mop-up Decembers, they could have their long-term answer right under their noses. Given the scarcity of decent quarterbacks on the market, the Panthers should at least use the $2.396million first-rounder, and weigh whether it’s worth $3.043million to get a first and a third if someone signs him away.

Michael Vick remains a quarterback that wants to be back under center somewhere in 2010, but as of now, he is still property of the Eagles, who likely will pick up his $1.5 million dollar roster bonus. With that though, Vick has stated who he would like to play for in 2010 – the Panthers of Carolina:

The Philadelphia Eagles will reportedly pick up a $1.5 million roster bonus that is due to quarterback Michael Vick. That doesn’t necessarily mean he will have wings on the sides of his helmet this season. There remains a good chance the Eagles will shop at least one of their quarterbacks and if Vick is the one, and he has a choice, he’s got one team in mind. No, it’s not the St. Louis Rams, who have been prominently mentioned as a possible destination and certainly have a need for a quarterback.

How about another NFC team with its own uncertain quarterback situation – the Carolina Panthers. “If I could play for any team in the league, it would probably be two teams, but if I had to pick one, it would probably be the Carolina Panthers,” Vick said in an appearance on Hot 107.9 in Atlanta, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Why the Panthers? “Well, you know, it’s close to home,” Vick said. “I like the uniforms. You get to play against Atlanta twice a year. Ain’t nothing better than playing against your former team, right? So, yeah, that would be a good look, it would be a good look.”

It would be interesting to see Vick in Carolina, as he could be a front runner to play for Jake Delhomme, who’s future with the team is very much in doubt after a tough 2010 season. Vick could give some life to a team that needs it, and was stale on offense for too much of 2009. Now it remains to be seen if the Panthers want Vick, and if the Eagles would deal him away.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated had some interesting thoughts on Julius Peppers, and how much money he might not make in free agency if he’s allowed to walk:

Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers might be in for a rude awakening this offseason as an NFL executive tells Peter King of Sports Illustrated that he would be surprised if Peppers can land a deal that pays him $10 million a year in free agency. The Panthers had previously offered to make Peppers the richest defender in the NFL but he turned down their offer hoping to sign for even more. There are rumors that teams are leery of Peppers due to his high price tag and inconsistent play.

The Panthers have signed defensive tackle Ed Johnson, adding depth to their line and taking a chance on a player with a checkered past. The 6-foot-2, 296-pound Johnson started all 16 games in 2007 as an undrafted rookie with Indianapolis under current Panthers defensive coordinator Ron Meeks.

The Colts waived Johnson early in the 2008 season following his arrest on a marijuana possession charge. He was re-signed, then cut again early last season because coach Jim Caldwell said his play had slipped.

The 26-year-old Johnson also ran into trouble at Penn State, where he was temporarily kicked out of school and later suspended from a bowl game. He’ll provide insurance for Carolina as Maake Kemoeatu recovers from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.

Running back DeAngelo Williams informed the world he was having surgery Monday by posting it on his pay-to-view web site.

Panthers beat writer and SN correspondent Darin Gantt reports the surgery, performed by team doctor Robert Anderson on his foot and ankle, is not considered serious.

Williams missed the Panthers’ final two games. However, he played in his first Pro Bowl in Miami. Given the surgery, Williams will likely miss most of the team’s organized team activities.

The Panthers may also be without Jonathan Stewart (Achilles’ surgery) for part of the offseason, giving Mike Goodson and Tyrell Sutton a chance to get more reps.

Panthers DT Maake Kemoeatu is making progress in his recovery from two surgeries to repair his torn Achilles, which caused him to miss the ’09 season, and plans to play in ’10.

“Everything’s going great, but it’s very painful for him,” Kemoeatu’s agent, Ken Vierra, told the Rock Hill Herald. “They’re working him pretty hard. Right now, he’s got to pay the price. He’s getting the musculature back, breaking up the scar tissue, and that’s a painful process.”

Vierra said Kemoeatu is “several weeks” away from jogging on a treadmill, though. And Kemoeatu is due a $9.3 million bonus next month, which would trigger a contract extension through the ’14 season. If the team passes on that extension, as expected, he will be due $4.3 million next year. …