Panthers Get Busy; Resign FB Brad Hoover

Panthers Resign FB Brad Hoover

In a very expected move the Panthers resigned FB Brad Hoover. Hoover has been with the team for 8 years after being signed as a UDFA.

Hoover's agent, Tim Irwin, said of his client: "He's just happy to stay a Panther."

The familiar "HOOV!" chant will remain another three seasons. Hoover is good blocker and has been a team-first kind of guy for years. I have to say though I’m a little disappointed only because I had begun to imagine getting a FB who could catch passes out of the backfield. Oh well....

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Panthers Looking at a DE

The Panthers got busy with free agency at the sound of the gun. They are already talking to Raiders back-up DE Tyler Brayton.

Brayton (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) was the 32nd overall selection in the 2003 NFL draft and has played at defensive end and outside linebacker, depending on the scheme the Raiders were using. He's an end in the 4-3 defense the Panthers use.

Brayton hasn't excelled as much as originally expected. He has six sacks in five seasons. He started 47 games in his first four years, but didn't start last season, appearing in all 16 games as a backup.

I can’t imagine a back-up DE is the answer at the right side but we’ll see how he looks.

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Panthers Entertaining DT Rod Coleman

Here’s one guy I hoping he has something left in the tank, kind of like when we signed Brentson Buckner a few years back.

Coleman is coming primarily for a physical examination and is being courted by several other teams, including Tampa Bay. Coleman has 581/2 sacks in nine seasons, but played only five games last year because of injuries.

This guy was beast just a couple seasons ago. My preference is to get a 2nd round pick for Jenkins and spent it on a DT like Trevor Laws.