National Football League

Broncos hurting, Panthers healing as free agency approaches

Published Mar. 9, 2016 4:02 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

While the Super Bowl winner scrambled to keep some important players, the loser of the big game held on to two key performers even before free agency officially began Wednesday.

With Peyton Manning retired and Malik Jackson headed to Jacksonville, the Denver Broncos also could see their only experienced quarterback, Brock Osweiler, and one of their best linebackers, Danny Trevathan, bid good-bye. At least Super Bowl MVP Von Miller has been franchise tagged and won't be going anywhere.

Carolina, which fell 24-10 to Denver in the Super Bowl, meanwhile retained All-Pro fullback Mike Tolbert and re-signed defensive end Charles Johnson to a lower salary.

Johnson, cut last week, received a one-year contract worth $3 million to return to the NFC champions, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. He said Johnson turned down an offer in excess of $6 million from another team.

Johnson, 29, would have cost the Panthers $15 million in 2016 under the cap before he was cut.

''My heart was in Carolina,'' he said. ''Once you put all that energy into it, I feel like I would have been wasting all that work had I gone somewhere else for some dollars. I'd rather be happy doing what I'm doing around people that I know, and I'm comfortable with. I can't wait to get back to work.''

Johnson has played nine seasons with Carolina and his 63 1/2 sacks are second most in franchise history, behind Julius Peppers' 81.

Tolbert also said he accepted fewer bucks to return to Carolina.

Headed to Miami was DE Mario Williams, and his signing after being released by Buffalo led to the Dolphins removing the transition tag from Olivier Vernon. The transition tag was for $12.734 million; Williams got $17 million over two years.

The Dolphins also finalized a trade to acquire cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso from the Eagles, who will receive a draft pick as compensation.

Star tight end Antonio Gates is remaining in San Diego with a two-year deal that will allow him to retire as a Charger. He'll get $12 million, with $6 million guaranteed, to keep his terrific combination with quarterback Philip Rivers going. The 2016 season will be Gates' 14th with the Chargers. He signed as a rookie free agent in 2003 after starring in basketball at Kent State. He turns 36 on June 18.

Linebacker Rolando McClain is returning for a third in season in Dallas. The 26-year-old McClain got one year at $5 million. He also has been with Oakland and Baltimore.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League