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The Carolina Panthers signed offensive tackle Travelle Wharton to a six-year contract extension Thursday afternoon, keeping him off the free agent market.




"We're happy to have Travelle signed for the next six years," general manager Marty Hurney said. "He's been very good the last four. He proved capable of being a very good starter for us. He has played tackle and guard for us and is an excellent player and is our type of person. To get him re-signed is a very good feeling."


With the Panthers likely to franchise Jordan Gross next week, it appears the Panthers will have both starting tackles in place next year.


Of course, there's still a chance the team could move Wharton to guard and try to make a splash by signing a free agent tackle or drafting one early in the draft. Wharton has the ability to slide into to play guard and some thing that might be his best position.


Gross is clearly better on the right side.


The deal will keep Wharton with the Panthers through 2013.


Hurney said the Panthers have also extended the contract of safety Chris Harris and re-signed defensive tackle Damione Lewis.


Earlier in the day, Harris signed a four-year extension that includes $12.3 million in new money. Lewis agreed to terms earlier in the week, but just signed the contract on Thursday.


Notes, Quotes
• When Chris Harris was stopped in the middle of a training camp practice last summer by Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and informed he'd been traded to Carolina, the strong safety was filled with unfamiliar emotions.


There was shock. Hurt. Anger.


The truth is he never wanted to be traded to Carolina. Now he wants to retire as a Panther.


All of those initial emotions have since faded in light of a stellar season in 2007 that earned him a four-year contract extension Thursday worth $12.3 million in new money. The deal keeps Harris with the Panthers through 2012.


"When I was traded, I didn't know what to think," Harris said Thursday morning. "But God ended up having a plan for me and things have definitely worked out for the best."


The reality is things couldn't have worked out better for Harris on a personal level. He now has financial security, something he probably wouldn't have had right away working as a backup in Chicago.


Harris wasn't due to become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2008 season, but the Panthers wanted to reward him for an outstanding first season in which he set a franchise record with eight forced fumbles.


Harris was to count $927,000 against the 2008 salary cap.


As part of the new deal, he will receive a $2 million signing bonus up front and a $1 million roster bonus in March of 2009, as well as workout bonuses of $100,000 for each of the next three seasons, according to league sources. His base salaries will be $527,000 in 2008, $1.7 million in '09, $2.05 million in '10, $2.45 million in '11 and $2.9 million in '12. He has built-in Pro Bowl incentives of $400,000 for each of the next four seasons.


Harris brought a needed intensity and physicality to the safety position, something the Panthers have been missing since the departure of Marlon McCree to San Diego via free agency in 2006. When receivers were coming across the middle, they knew if Harris was anywhere in sight they were going to get popped. Harris delivered some of the best hits of the season.


In fact, his first season with the Panthers was probably the single best performance of any safety in team history, although it flew largely under the radar because of the team's overall struggles on both sides of the football.


• Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has begun throwing a Nerf Football with trainer Ryan Vermillion, the next step in his rehabilitation from elbow surgery.


Delhomme missed 13 games last season after needing Tommy John surgery.


He said he is pain-free and plans to be full go by the time the Panthers report to training camp in July.


• With Chris Harris locked up, the Panthers clearly have a jump on the 2008 NFL draft.


They gave up a fifth-round pick in '08 to the Bears to get him and it's hard to imagine a fifth rounder having the impact on the Panthers the way Harris will, especially given coach John Fox's reluctance to play rookies right away.


Harris said he planned to celebrate by going to Las Vegas to watch a middleweight championship fight between Jermaine Taylor, who is from his hometown, and Kelly Pavlik.


"I'm just as happy as I could be," Harris said. "For them to have the confidence in me to give me a long-term deal even though I've only been there one season -- that means a lot to me."


Quote To Note: "I'm thrilled to be able to stay in Carolina. I hope to retire a Panther." -- SS Chris Harris.


Strategy And Personnel
The day after the Carolina Panthers 2007 season came to an end, quarterback Jake Delhomme mentioned to reporters the team needs to add another "playmaker" to help out wide receiver Steve Smith. Coach John Fox agreed and went a step further, suggesting the Panthers might need to add "more than one."


Wide receiver is the team's most obvious need in terms of adding a "playmaker," with tight end being a close second and a power running back a not-so-distant third.


Keary Colbert and Drew Carter are set to become unrestricted free agents and it would surprise nobody if both are allowed to walk. That would leave the Panthers with Smith and last year's rookies Dwayne Jarrett and Ryne Robinson as their receivers.


That's not much depth.


Common sense would lead you to believe the Panthers will fill those voids in free agency given the lack of production they received from last year's rookie draft picks -- Jarrett, a second-rounder, and Robinson, a fourth-rounder. The reality is the Panthers need a receiver who can produce this year, and the last rookie who stepped in and made an immediate impact was Colbert back in 2004.


TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY


The Carolina Panthers will look to re-sign offensive tackle Jordan Gross to a long-term extension this week, but there's a good chance that won't happen and he will wind up with the franchise tag.


Gross and the Panthers aren't close to a deal, according to GM Marty Hurney.


Gross is expected to command a deal in the seven-year, $49 million range with guaranteed money in the $20 million range.


The other key figure in this was starting left tackle Travelle Wharton, but the Panthers got him done on Thursday.


1. Wide receiver. The Panthers need a playmaker to take pressure off Steve Smith. In fact, they probably need two. Keary Colbert and Drew Carter are both free agents, so the Panthers could look to replace both. Look for them to address this need in free agency, rather than the draft. It's hard to count on a rookie to make an immediate impact at this spot. Just look at Dwayne Jarrett. The guy I'd like to see the Panthers sign is Seattle's D.J. Hackett


2. Defensive end. Mike Rucker wants to come back and play another season,, but even if he re-signs with Carolina they still need to upgrade and add youth here. Neither Stanley McClover nor Charles Johnson showed they were ready to step into a starting role in '07. In fact, even if Rucker were to return for a victory tour next season, the Panthers should still make upgrading this spot a huge priority.


3. Free safety. Deke Cooper did a decent job filling in last season, but he's not going to scare many offensive coordinators. Besides, he's a free agent so there's no assurance he'll be back. Nate Salley is returning from knee surgery, but the Panthers could really use a veteran ball hawking safety that causes turnovers and brings the same type of attitude to the defense that Chris Harris did this season. Mike Doss anyone?


4. Running back. The Panthers were happy with the play of DeAngelo Williams and even DeShaun Foster, though Williams clearly outperformed his mentor in 2007. Cap economics could come into play here. Foster carries the second-highest base salary on the team ($4.75 million) into 2008. That's a lot of money for a guy who still hasn't had a 1,000-yard season. Could the Panthers make a play for Michael Turner? Don't be surprised.



Medical Watch: Quarterback Brett Basanez is back to full strength and throwing without pain after a wrist injury put the third-stringer on IR last season.


Also, quarterback Jake Delhomme hopes to begin throwing a real football in the next month or two.


FRANCHISE PLAYER: None, but Jordan Gross is a likely prospect here to get the tag by Feb. 21

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• WR Drew Carter has great speed, but never developed into a consistent receiver, largely because of his questionable hands. Still, the team might try to bring him back.


• WR Keary Colbert has made fans grow tired of his act in Carolina and it would be hard to believe Carolina would bring him back next year. But you never know. He's had more chances than any player I can remember.


• FS Deke Cooper played well after being tossed into the starting lineup following an injury to Nate Salley. Cooper may want to explore the market, but look for the Panthers to make a run at bringing him back.


• LB Donte Curry was brought in to play special teams midway through the season. He's certainly not a top priority this off-season, although that doesn't mean he won't be back.


• CB Curtis Deloatch was brought in as a fourth cornerback before injuring his knee. He is not considered a top priority.


• TE Christian Fauria was brought in to be a mentor to the younger tight ends on the roster. His job is done and at age 36 he may be ready to retire.


• OT Jordan Gross is Carolina's top free agent this off-season. It's hard to imagine the Panthers not bringing him back, but it will cost them. Gross should command between $5-7 million per season in the free agent market. Don't expect a deal to get done soon. If not, he will be franchised.


• FB Brad Hoover and the Panthers are already in talks to bring Hoover back. He'll come pretty cheap, so look for something along the lines of a three-year deal. However, he does have a lot of wear and tear on his tires.


• SS Marquand Manuel was signed for depth at safety. Don't expect him to return.


• LB Terence Melton was supposed to help out on special teams but tore up his knee in the preseason and went on IR. He still could return for a minimum contract.


• DT Kindal Moorehead has always been a role player for the Panthers and it's conceivable he could return at a bargain price, although he will likely explore the market first.


• DE Mike Rucker wants to play again but if he returns it might be as a backup.


• CB Dante Wesley was brought in as the fourth cornerback but injured his shoulder and did not return. He's a good special teams player, but the Panthers probably won't go out of their way to re-sign him. If he comes back, then great.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• OT Evan Mathis started 15 games at guard in 2006 but didn't see the field last season. A big strong guy and likely will be retained.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED


• DT Damione Lewis: Potential UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.


• OT Travelle Wharton: Potential UFA; 6 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST


• LB Dan Morgan (released).


• OG Mike Wahle (released).



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