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Panthers Secure One Safety: Who's the Other?

Feb 14, 2008 – 11:50 AM
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David J. Warner

David J. Warner %BloggerTitle%

The Carolina Panthers have signed strong safety Chris Harris to a four-year, $3 million-per-year contract extension yesterday. The Panthers acquired Harris from the Bears for a fifth-round pick last August after Mike Minter retired, and he had a fantastic season, making 97 tackles and forcing 8 fumbles.

That's great, Panthers. Who's the free safety?

Deke Cooper is a free agent, and I think we all know neither he nor Quinton Teal are the answer here. There's a possibility Nate Salley could return. He was expected to start at free safety last season until a knee injury sidelined him for the season. His current status is up in the air.

My guess, though, is that Marty Hurney will either sign a free agent or draft someone this offseason. Ken Hamlin would be ideal, but the Cowboys are considering slapping a franchise tag on him. Cincinnati's Madieu Williams and Atlanta's Chris Crocker (Leave Britney alone!!!) and Minnesota's Mike Doss are also available, though nobody's talking about the Panthers pursuing any of them.

Either way, this position needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. If Hurney thinks the Panthers can count on a dodgy-knee Buckeye and a couple of no-names at safety, though, he's clearly deluded.
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