David Newton

1dDavid Newton

How glassblowing helps Minnesota Vikings' Stephen Weatherly decompress

Following his release by Carolina, Weatherly leaned into an artistic getaway from stress while searching for his next team.

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David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

Glassblowing became therapeutic for defensive end Stephen Weatherly even more so after he was released by the Panthers on February 19. This is the vase he worked on in Charlotte before signing on Thursday with Minnesota, where glassblowing became his hobby in 2019 with the Vikings.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

Defensive end Stephen Weatherly is returning to Minnesota after a year with the Panthers, where he wasn't a good fit and was released after signing a 2-year, $12.5 million deal.

AP Photo/Chuck Burton

4dDavid Newton

LB Davis to sign 1-day deal with Panthers, retire

Linebacker Thomas Davis, 37, said he will sign a one-day deal with the Panthers next week so he can retire with the club.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

Longtime Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis announced on Instagram he will retire and sign a one-day deal with Carolina on March 11 so he will end his NFL career where it started. "I will officially be returning to the place that my heart has been all along,'' wrote Davis, who was released by Carolina after the 2018 season and spent this past season with former Panthers coach Ron Rivera in Washington.

John Byrum/Icon Sportswire

5dDavid Newton

Carolina Panthers free-agency overview: Upgrades needed at QB and O-line

The Panthers enter free agency with plenty of holes to fill, especially along the offensive line.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

10dDavid Newton

Why drafting a quarterback in the first round might not be Panthers' preferred plan

Many teams try to solve QB issues by taking one in the first round. The data doesn't necessarily support that approach in terms of finding a playoff-winning QB.

Will the Panthers draft Mac Jones at No. 8? (1:07)

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

The Panthers signed tackle Trent Scott, who was scheduled to become a restricted free agent, to a one-year deal. That adds depth to the line and a player who can fill in as a starter when there are injures.

12d

Who will be QB1 in NOLA? Can Wentz turn it around in Indy?

On this edition of NFL Live, the crew dives into who the best player in the upcoming NFL draft is, shockingly no QB's were mentioned. Could we see a reunion with Cam Newton and the Patriots, we hear from Cam and his high praise for Bill Belichick. Plus who will be playing QB for the Saints next season?

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

The Panthers promoted Frank Okam to defensive line coach, per league source. Okam served as the assistant line coach in 2020 but was moved up after Mike Phair was not retained. Okam worked with Carolina coach Matt Rhule for two seasons at Baylor.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

DT Kawann Short appreciated that Carolina met with him personally last week when they released him. He told Sirius NFL radio that officials told him “they would love to have me back.'' In other words, at a lower cap number than the $20 million he was due against the cap. The Panthers did that with DE Charles Johnson a few years ago. “We've got to find a team that really believes I can still play after coming off these last two years with surgery on both shoulders,'' Short said.

Why the Panthers could be suitors for Deshaun Watson (1:04)

16d

Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports

16dDavid Newton

Panthers release 3, increase cap space to $28.5M

The Carolina Panthers cleared $19.9 million in salary-cap space this week with the release of four players, including three on Friday.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

The Panthers save $3.55M this year, and will carry a $2,666,668 dead money charge in 2022,by giving safety Tre Boston his release with a post-June 1 designation. That and the release of defensive end Stephen Weatherly and punter Michael Palardy, confirmed by league sources, brings their cap space to $28.473 million, according to ESPN's Roster Management.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

Panthers informed safety Tre Boston today he will be released but it won't become official until the start of the NFL's new year that begins March 17, and it will have a post-June 1 designation, per league source. Salary cap ramifications.

Adam Schefter ESPN Senior Writer

Panthers informed starting safety Tre Boston today that they are releasing him, per source.

AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi

17dJeff Legwold

Could the 2021 NFL offseason match 1999's? That's when 16 teams changed QB starters

More than half of the NFL teams in 1999 changed starting quarterbacks from the previous season. Could this offseason match the record?

18d

Testes, Testes, 1 2 3...

Lots of reasons to celebrate on this Wednesday! Michael Jordan's Bday! Pitchers & Catchers report! Serena vs. Naomi tonight! Spain & Fitz also talk about the futures of Watson & Roethlisberger and debut #BetterOrWorse by fighting about 30 Rock v. Studio 60 and the halcyon days of Must-See TV. Plus, OTL's Ryan Smith on alleged racial bias in NFL concussion settlements, ESPN 730's Molly Cotton on the Panthers' chances of getting Deshaun and Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel on tonight's tennis showdown.

Torrey Smith: Watson on Panthers makes sense (1:16)

18d

Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire

18dDavid Newton

Panthers defensive roster outlook: Seeking D-line depth, next Luke Kuechly

Carolina enters the offseason with depth issues on defense and a need for an impact middle linebacker.

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

19d

Panthers release former 2-time Pro Bowler Short

The Panthers have released veteran defensive tackle Kawann Short. A two-time Pro Bowler, Short has played a total of five games over the past two seasons due to injury.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

The Panthers now have approximately $20.7 million in cap space with the release of Kawann Short, according to ESPN's Roster Management after updating numbers. That gives the team flexibility to sign right tackle Taylor Moton to a long-term deal or use the franchise tag on him if it comes to that. Would expect other moves to clear up more space heading into free agency.

David Newton ESPN Staff Writer

The Panthers are releasing Pro Bowl DT Kawann Short, a league source confirmed. This was expected as it will create $8.6 million in cap space, according to ESPN's Roster Management. Even Short seemed to understand after the season this was coming. "We're all grown here, so you know what it is," Short said after the season.