PANTHERS 101

The Carolina Panthers signed free agent defensive end Jyles Tucker last Friday. Tucker is yet another player that Ron Rivera knows from his stint as defensive coordinator in San Diego.

Tucker, 28, was released by the Chargers after spending four years as mostly a backup. After going undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2007, Tucker started 12 games in 2008, but has only seen action in 10 games since – recording just one sack and six tackles in the past three years. However, at 6-foot-3, 258 pounds, Tucker has the versatility to play both defensive end and linebacker and should add some depth to the Carolina defense.

Tucker joins Antwan Applewhite, Ogemdi Nwagbuo, Kion Wilson, Seyi Ajirotutu, and Cletis Gordon as former Chargers to join the Panthers roster.

Other News: The Panthers, who went on a spending frenzy following last year’s lockout, will have to make some important personnel decisions before the beginning of the league year. According to ESPN’s John Clayton, the Panthers, who are a reported $9.6 million beyond the salary cap, are one of four teams (Pittsburgh, Oakland, NY Giants) who will have to cut costs before March 13.

Cutting costs will likely begin with oft-injured linebacker Thomas Davis, as the team will have to either restructure his contract or cut and resign him in order to avoid the $8 million option on his deal. Davis believes that the team will work something out to retain him.

The Panthers also will have to decide what to do with one-time starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Clausen, who went 1-9 as a starter in 2010, is owed a $923,000 roster bonus in March. All signs point to the team cutting the former second-round draft pick, as he became largely irrelevant as the third-string quarterback behind Cam Newton and Derek Anderson in 2011.

Offensive guard Travelle Wharton is the third big name that the Carolina front office will have to evaluate in the coming weeks. Wharton, a career Panther, has two years remaining on his contract with a cap number of $7.6 million in 2012. The decision to let Wharton go may be much easier with the emergence of rookie Byron Bell last season, who could be retained for a much cheaper price.

Punter Jason Baker is also a potential salary cap casualty. Baker, who finished dead last in the NFL in net punting last season, is entering the final year of his deal with a cap number of nearly $2 million.

Tags: Byron Bell, Carolina, Carolina Panthers, Football, Jason Baker, Jimmy Clausen, Jyles Tucker, NFL, Thomas Davis, Travelle Wharton

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