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At a dinner for his charitable foundation a few weeks ago, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton talked about how he wants to embrace Charlotte.

As a rookie last season, Newton spoke to the media only when required and kept a low profile. He even caused a bit of a panic among fans when he made some comments that implied he was too big for a small market.

But it looks like Newton is putting down roots in the Queen City. In addition to getting more active in the community with his foundation, Newton has found a home.

He recently bought a $1.6 million condo in Uptown Charlotte. One of his neighbors will be basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who now owns the Charlotte Bobcats. Given the fact that the Bobcats had one of the worst seasons in NBA history and are drawing all sorts of criticism, Newton might be the most popular resident in his building.

Charlotte never has had a true national sports superstar. Julius Peppers was big, but he never embraced the community. Larry Johnson was a big deal when the basketball team in town was the Hornets. Steve Smith is a big deal and has spent his entire career with the Panthers. Sam Mills, Kevin Greene and Reggie White were big names, but they joined the Panthers at the end of their careers.

Newton has one big advantage on all of them. He’s a quarterback and that means an automatic spotlight. Kerry Collins had that once, but squandered it and lasted less than four seasons with the Panthers. If Newton continues to build on his rookie season and embraces Charlotte, then the city will embrace him. Newton has a chance to be the biggest thing ever in Charlotte, even bigger than Jordan.

As we get ready for the start of the NFL draft Thursday, let’s quickly review which teams have what picks.

After that, we’ll turn to ESPN Stats & Information for a few draft notes on each team.

The Atlanta Falcons have six overall picks -- second round (No. 55), third round (84), fifth round (157), sixth round (192) and two seventh-round picks (229 and 249). After trading up to draft Julio Jones last year, the Falcons are without a first-round pick for the first time since 2006. With only two picks in the first four rounds, the Falcons are tied with the Saints and Raiders for the fewest. The Falcons have selected a defensive player with six of eight picks in the first three rounds since 2009. Of the six draft picks in 2011, only Jones started a game last season.

The Carolina Panthers have seven picks -- first round (No. 9), second round (40), fourth round (104), fifth round (143), sixth round (180 and 207) and seventh round (216). The Panthers are the only team in the draft without a third-round pick. They traded that to the Bears last year for tight end Greg Olsen. Of the five draft picks the Panthers have had in the top 10 in their history, they have used four of them on offensive players, with defensive end Julius Peppers being the only exception.

The New Orleans Saints have five picks -- third round (No. 89), fourth round (122), fifth round (162), sixth round (179) and seventh round (234). The Saints traded away their first-round pick last year when they moved back into the first round to take running back Mark Ingram. They had to forfeit their second-round pick, which would have been No. 59, as part of their punishment for the bounty program. This is the first time in franchise history the Saints haven’t had a pick in the first two rounds. The five picks are the fewest the Saints have had since 2009, when they had four. Their 16 total picks from 2009 through 2011 are the second-fewest of any team. The Saints drafted defensive players with five of their six picks in 2011.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have six picks -- first round (No. 5), second round (36), third round (68), fifth round (140), sixth round (174) and seventh round (212). The only time the Bucs have had fewer picks was in 2000, when they had only five. Tampa Bay’s eight draft picks in 2011 combined for 46 starts last season (tied for third in the league). The Bucs have drafted defensive front-seven players with their first three picks in 2011 and their first two picks in 2010. There’s been a lot of speculation the Bucs could use their first-round pick on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. If they do, it will mark only the third time in franchise history they’ve used a first-round pick on a defensive back. The previous two were Aqib Talib in 2008 and Roderick Jones in 1986.

The Carolina Panthers are having a neighbor in for a visit Monday.

North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples reportedly is having his pre-draft visit with the team Monday. Although defensive tackles Dontari Poe and Devon Still have been commonly linked to the Panthers at the No. 9 spot, don’t rule out Coples as a possibility.

Defensive end might not seem like a huge priority for the Panthers, but coach Ron Rivera wants to make his defense as explosive as possible. Coples has the tools to be a disruptive pass-rusher and that would only help Carolina’s entire defense.

The knock you see in draft reports on Coples is that he doesn’t show up on every play. Gee, does that sound familiar to Carolina fans?

That was the exact same knock that followed Julius Peppers, another North Carolina defensive end, when he entered the league in 2002. Peppers quickly shed that label as he produced 12 sacks as a rookie. Peppers was a little streaky at times, but he produced double-digit sacks in six of his eight seasons in Carolina and offenses always had to account for him.

If the Panthers think Coples can be anything like Peppers, they have to at least consider drafting him.

The Atlanta Falcons appear to be on the verge of letting their top pass-rusher walk into free agency. That might be their wisest move.

Defensive end John Abraham reportedly wants a deal that will pay him more than $12 million a year. His agent said he plans to meet with the Falcons at the scouting combine this weekend for a final attempt at getting a deal done, but said the two sides remain far apart.

I wouldn’t expect any resolution unless Abraham suddenly drops his price tag. Abraham is a very good player, but his price tag is in the range of Julius Peppers ($14 million per year), Charles Johnson ($12.7 million) and Jared Allen ($12.2 million).

If Abraham was 27, I’d say go ahead and pay him, but Abraham is about to turn 34. Twelve million is too high a figure for a player at this stage of his career. Abraham was used as a situational player last season and led the team with 9.5 sacks, but it should be noted that 3.5 of those sacks were against a hapless Jacksonville team.

Abraham has been dealing with injuries the past few years and it’s not likely his body suddenly will turn young again. I think the smart thing for the Falcons is to let Abraham go ahead and test the market. That strategy could lead him back to Atlanta.

I’m thinking other teams also will have concerns about paying so much for a player near the end of his career. The Falcons should make it clear to Abraham’s agent how high they will go and I’m thinking the number may be somewhere around the $8 million Abraham made last year. Leave that offer on the table and let Abraham go out and see what he can get. He might not get any higher offers and he could return at a more reasonable rate.

If Abraham does get a better offer, let him go. The Falcons aren’t loaded with pass-rushers. Ray Edwards was their big signing last season. He played the run well, but didn’t generate a lot of pressure. Lawrence Sidbury is still around and the Falcons likely will re-sign Kroy Biermann if Abraham leaves. But the Falcons likely would have to go out and get a defensive end in free agency or the draft.

There are no guarantees out there, but the Falcons could come out ahead in the long term. At his age, Abraham doesn’t come with any guarantees, either.

Thoughts on Carolina’s 34-29 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field:

What it means: The Panthers lead the league in moral victories, but they’re 1-3. They went into a tough venue and kept the game close until the end. That’s nice and there’s lots of hope for the future. But the Panthers still have a little way to go before they can win games on the road against good teams. High-priced kicker Olindo Mare didn’t exactly help matters by missing a field-goal attempt and having another blocked.

What I liked: The Panthers got DeAngelo Williams in rhythm in the running game for the first time this season. I know fans have been calling for Jonathan Stewart to start ahead of Williams and get the vast majority of the carries. Stewart’s a very good running back, but I honestly believe Williams is better. He’s more dynamic. Other than Steve Smith, he’s the most explosive player on this roster.

Cam’s calm: The most encouraging thing about the Panthers is rookie quarterback Cam Newton. This guy kept Carolina in the game and he bounced back nicely after throwing an early interception that was returned for a touchdown. His demeanor was impressive and you can’t say the same for counterpart Jay Cutler. The Chicago quarterback was making faces at teammates and freaking out at every sign of trouble.

What I didn’t like: Ron Rivera knows the Bears pretty well. He should have known better than to ever punt or kick the ball anywhere near Devin Hester.

What else I didn’t like: The Panthers couldn’t stop the run. Then again, that’s not at all surprising. They haven’t done that for a few years, and that probably isn’t going to change anytime soon with linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis out for the season.

Mr. Consistency: Carolina’s Charles Johnson has a sack in all four games this season. He had a six-game streak last season. This guy has done a nice job of filling the shoes of Julius Peppers. Johnson doesn’t take over a game the way Peppers sometimes did. But he also doesn’t disappear for weeks at a time, the way Peppers often did. Carolina has tried repeatedly to address the defensive tackle position. Nothing’s worked. This team has to go out and find a stud defensive tackle in free agency or the draft next year.

What’s next: The Panthers host the Saints next Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

Let's take a look at the Saturday headlines from around the NFC South.

Interesting story on the relationship between Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers and Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson. They used to be teammates and there’s lots of irony in the quotes. Peppers says Johnson wasn’t very mature when he came into the league and he tried to show the young player the way. Johnson backs that up, calls Peppers a leader and says he strives to be as consistent as Peppers. Funny, but, prior to this, nobody ever accused Peppers of being mature, a leader or consistent in his Carolina days. But, if Peppers did have something to do with Johnson’s development, then he did leave a bit of a positive legacy in Carolina.

Speaking of former Panthers now with the Bears, safety Chris Harris didn’t sound optimistic about his chances of playing Sunday due to a hamstring injury.

The Saints are saying they won’t approach Sunday’s game against Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert any differently than any other opponent. They even praise Gabbert and say they think he’s well prepared for the challenge. I think the Saints are just being nice. On Sunday, I expect defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to send every pass-rusher he’s got after Gabbert. Besides, even if Gabbert plays better than he did in the rain at Carolina last week, he’s not going to win a shootout with Drew Brees.

Despite starting slowly on offense in all three games this season, the Falcons aren’t going to abandon their practice of scripting the first 15 plays. But it might be wise if coordinator Mike Mularkey inserts some plays that haven’t been in the script this season. It also might be wise if he places a tight end next to left tackle Sam Baker in an effort to help keep quarterback Matt Ryan on his feet.

There already had been reports that Atlanta safety William Moore was fined for a hit on Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman last week. But Roy Cummings reports Moore’s $7,500 tab actually was for a hit on running back Earnest Graham. Cummings also reports that Tampa Bay defensive tackle Brian Price was fined $7,500 for slapping an Atlanta player in the head.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank reportedly sold his Buckhead mansion for $3.9 million.

The Bucs held a Friday night practice to prepare for their Monday night game. Linebacker Quincy Black (ankle) and tight end Kellen Winslow (knee) were among those who sat out. Winslow generally sits out one practice a week and he already had missed Thursday’s practice, so this is one to keep an eye on. The Bucs don’t have to issue their final injury report until later Saturday. We’ll let you know Winslow’s status as soon as we get it.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 4:

Remember the Saints: On paper, Atlanta’s trip to Seattle looks like the perfect get-well game for a team that’s been struggling. Logic says this should be an easy win for the Falcons. But logic said the same thing the last time an NFC South team went into Seattle. That was in January, when the Saints came for a playoff game and wound up getting beat by the Seahawks. Seattle may not have a great team, but it’s a very tough place for a team to come into. Crowd noise, the long trip and the time change can all be factors. Just ask the Saints.

Matchup of the week: That would be Carolina left tackle Jordan Gross against Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers. Gross has more experience than any player in the league at blocking Peppers. Before joining the Bears last season, Peppers spent eight seasons in Carolina. Gross was drafted in 2003, the year after Peppers, and the two squared off in practice on a daily basis for most of their seven seasons together. Peppers probably won’t be able to fool Gross, so he’ll have to rely mostly on his pure athletic ability.

Carrying the banner: When the Saints play at Jacksonville on Sunday, they’ll be representing more than themselves. They’ll be representing the NFC South, and they have a chance to end an embarrassing streak. No NFC South team ever has won a regular-season game in Jacksonville. The Saints, Buccaneers, Falcons and Panthers each are 0-2 in trips to Jacksonville.

Watch out for Roman Harper: The New Orleans safety is a little bit like Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber in that he’s one of the best pass-rushing defensive backs in the NFL. That may be a little like saying someone has the strongest throwing arm of any first baseman in baseball, but it could be a big factor Sunday when the Saints face Jacksonville rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Since 2006, Harper has 12 sacks, the most by any safety in that span. Harper already has 2.5 sacks this year. You can bet defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will be blitzing Harper -- and some other defenders -- frequently against Gabbert.

History doesn’t matter in this one: The Colts and Buccaneers are playing on Monday night, which automatically brings back memories of the last time the two teams played a Monday night game. That was 2003, and the game was the official mark of Tampa Bay’s stumble after winning a Super Bowl championship. The Bucs led that game 35-14 with four minutes left in regulation. Peyton Manning engineered a dramatic comeback to force overtime, and the Colts kicked a field goal to win it. But Manning’s hurt and won’t play. Aside from Barber, no other Tampa Bay player was involved in that game. In fact, most of the young Buccaneers were in high school or junior high at the time.

This one should come as no surprise. The NFL just announced that Carolina quarterback Cam Newton has been named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September.

The No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Newton threw for 1,012 yards, the most ever by a player in his first three NFL games. He threw for four touchdowns and ran for two.

Newton threw for 422 yards in his debut, the most ever by a player in his first game. He followed that by throwing for 432 yards in Week 2.

Newton is only the third Carolina player to earn Rookie of the Month honors. Julius Peppers won the defensive award in October 2002 and Matt Moore won it for offense in Dec. 2007.

Sam Bradford (October and November 2010) and Tim Couch (October 1999) are the only other quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall to be named NFL Rookie of the Month and Newton is the only one to earn the award in his first month of play.

Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan won Defensive Rookie of the Month.

Time for a look at the top headlines from around the NFC South.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that wide receiver Marques Colston has been cleared to play Sunday at Jacksonville. Colston broke his collarbone in the season opener and missed the past two games. The Saints won both of those, but quarterback Drew Brees should be even more dangerous with his top target back on the field. Cornerback Tracy Porter, who has missed the past two games, also practiced fully.

D. Orlando Ledbetter writes that the Falcons might be missing guard Harvey Dahl more than they thought they would. Dahl, who left via free agency, was the only departure from an offensive line that went from being good to very bad. I’m sure Dahl’s absence is playing some role in the decline. But it wasn’t like Dahl was the most talented player on the line. This unit has overachieved for several years and maybe reality is finally setting in.

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris at first said he couldn’t award cornerback Ronde Barber a game ball because he didn’t return his interception for a touchdown against Atlanta. Morris later relented and gave the veteran a game ball.

It appears as if the Saints will be without right tackle Zach Strief, who suffered a knee injury for some time. That means second-year pro Charles Brown is the likely starter. Brown has lots of potential, but very little experience. He barely played last year and missed offseason workouts after having back surgery.

Chicago coach Lovie Smith called defensive end Julius Peppers the most talented player in the NFL. Peppers will play against his former team, the Panthers, on Sunday but he said it’s "just another game."

Carolina's Ron Rivera, Atlanta's Mike Smith and Tampa Bay's Raheem Morris all had to face the music Monday as they met with the press to reflect on Sunday's season-opening losses. Let's hit the links to see what they had to say and check some other notes from around the NFC South.

Rivera said rookie quarterback Cam Newton “exceeded expectations’’ in the season opener at Arizona. That’s good to know because someone out there might have thought the Panthers (or anyone else on the planet) actually expected Newton to go out and throw for 422 yards in his NFL debut. Rivera added there still are “some things to work on.’’ That’s also good to know because Newton’s probably not going to throw for 422 yards in every game for the next decade or so.

Just what Falcons’ fans want to hear after Sunday’s ugly loss to Chicago. Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick can’t wait to get back to Atlanta, the city where he started his NFL career.

Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Greg Olson suggested quarterback Josh Freeman and some other players might have lost their swagger in the loss to Detroit. He might have a point. But I don’t think you’d be out of line in suggesting Olsen’s play calling might have played a role in the loss of swagger.

Speaking of Tampa Bay’s play calling, running back LeGarrette Blount said he felt like he should have been on the field more Sunday. Blount carried only five times for 15 yards and was on the sideline as Tampa Bay spent much of the game running its two-minute offense, a package that doesn’t include Blount. Morris second guessed himself Monday, saying he might have gone to the two-minute offense too quickly.

Tampa Bay receiver Sammie Stroughter injured his foot Sunday and will have minor surgery that’s expected to keep him out a few weeks.

Smith said Atlanta center Joe Hawley, who was making his first career start against the Bears, had the most solid game of any of the offensive linemen. Then again, judging by what I saw out of the rest of the offensive line, that’s not real high praise. By the way, who thought it was a good idea to let Chicago's Julius Peppers have lots of one-on-one matchups with left tackle Sam Baker? A little help from the tight ends might have been nice.

The Bears, who tore apart one NFC South team already, are looking forward to another. When they play the Saints on Sunday, they’ll be going against former Chicago center Olin Kreutz, who was a very respected figure in the locker room during his time with the Bears. Also, it’s pretty safe to assume the New Orleans coaches and players might be tapping into Kreutz to find out a little more about Chicago’s offensive scheme and the tendencies of their defensive linemen.

New Orleans running back Patrick Cobbs, who was signed in August as a fill-in and promptly got hurt, was released off the injured-reserve list.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- You’ve heard plenty about the lockout over the past few months, but it actually was in effect in Charlotte since 2008.

The moment owners opted out of the previous labor agreement, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson realized there were tough financial times ahead. He immediately decided he wasn’t going to spend big money on long-term deals for players or coaches (the Panthers didn’t add a single unrestricted free agent in 2009 or 2010) because Richardson wanted to protect everyone else who worked for his franchise during these tough times.

That’s why defensive end Julius Peppers was allowed to walk in free agency last year. That’s why John Fox was allowed to be a lame-duck coach entering a 2010 season that turned into a nightmare. Despite having a roster filled with a reasonable amount of individual talent, the Panthers went 2-14 and fan apathy reached an all-time high.

But Richardson’s entire philosophy changed the moment the labor situation was resolved. He took the lock off his checkbook and began paying huge money to keep players such as defensive end Charles Johnson, running back DeAngelo Williams and linebackers Jon Beason, James Anderson and Thomas Davis. He added free agents such as kicker Olindo Mare and traded for tight end Greg Olsen. Including rookies, Richardson already has written checks for more than $100 million in signing bonuses.

Throw in the fact that Ron Rivera has replaced Fox and the Panthers chose quarterback Cam Newton with the first pick of the draft, and there suddenly is optimism the Panthers can quickly escape the label of being one of the league’s worst teams.

“That’s the one thing I’ve learned from being a Carolina Panther for going on nine years is that you never know what kind of a team we’re going to field from year to year,’’ veteran left tackle Jordan Gross said. “Things can change dramatically, and I think they are going to here. I love Coach Rivera’s philosophy and the staff he’s put together. They’re committed to winning, and the organization has shown that as well with what it has done with getting new guys and re-signing our own guys. I think we can be as good as we want to be.’’

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Will Newton be the savior of this franchise? It’s way too early to even have a clue if the guy who played only one full season at Auburn will succeed in the NFL. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that the Panthers aren’t asking Newton to be their savior -- at least not right away.

The hope in Carolina is that Newton will get a reasonable grasp of the offense in training camp and show it in preseason games. If he does, he’ll be the opening-day starter. The Panthers don’t want to prolong the inevitable and start the season with Jimmy Clausen because Newton clearly is their future.

The playbook can expand as time goes on, but the organization believes that Newton can step right in behind an offensive line that should be good and can take advantage of a strong running game, very good tight ends and wide receiver Steve Smith.

2. What will the new offense look like? The popular thing to do in Carolina is assume that the departure of Fox and offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson means the Panthers are suddenly going to start throwing the ball all over the field.

They will throw more, but the Panthers won't pass as often as people think. That would be foolish with a rookie quarterback and it would border on insanity to keep the ball out of the hands of running backs Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Under new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, there will be significant differences from the Fox/Davidson era.

Chudzinski came from San Diego and plans to use an offensive scheme that’s based on what the Chargers do. You’ll see more passes to the tight ends, a big reason the Panthers brought in Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. You’ll see plays designed to get Smith away from double coverage. But don’t expect Newton to step right in and immediately be Philip Rivers.

3. What will the defense look like? Rivera has a defensive background. His coordinator is Sean McDermott, who spent time in Philadelphia. Some personnel changes in the middle of the defensive line will allow Beason, Anderson and Davis to again become play-making linebackers. That’s going to make this defense look a little like Fox’s defense of a few years back. But the real change will be a new philosophy that involves taking risks and being aggressive. The Panthers didn’t blitz much last year and didn’t have much success when they did. That’s going to change. McDermott’s going to use those athletic linebackers as blitzers, and with Johnson and Greg Hardy already up front, Carolina suddenly could have a dynamic and disruptive pass rush. The secondary is not loaded with big-time talent, but it could look a lot better if quarterbacks are forced into mistakes.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Granted, it’s early, but the Panthers are hopeful receiver/return man Armanti Edwards will make an impact. A second-round pick last year, Edwards was a nonfactor as a rookie. That was largely because Fox believed the former college quarterback did not belong in the NFL. He barely let Edwards on the field as he made a statement to an owner and front office that wanted the lame-duck coach to embrace a youth movement. But Fox is gone and there’s sudden optimism about Edwards. The team didn’t know it until after the lockout ended, but it was delighted to find out that Edwards reached out to veteran punter Jason Baker during the offseason. The two worked out together frequently and Edwards made dramatic improvement in his ability to catch punts. There’s a good chance he could be the main punt and kickoff returner this season. He also could be involved in certain packages as a wide receiver.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The perception is the Panthers have done just about everything they’ve wanted to in free agency. But that’s not quite reality. According to a league source, the team made a strong play for free-agent receiver Santana Moss, offering him a three-year deal worth $15 million. Moss took the deal back to the Redskins, who matched it, so he elected to stay in Washington. That one shook the Panthers a bit. Although they have high hopes for young receivers Brandon LaFell and David Gettis, they want to pair a proven veteran with Smith to start the season. Look for them to bring in another veteran at some point before the start of the regular season.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Keep your eye on the cornerbacks who remain on the market or come available over the next few weeks. The Panthers let Richard Marshall leave via free agency. They still have Chris Gamble and Captain Munnerlyn, but a team that has been so aggressive this offseason isn’t going to sit still at this position. The Panthers will sign a cornerback with starting experience at some point. They’re just waiting for the right guy at the right price.
• The Panthers pushed veteran kicker John Kasay out the door and handed Mare a $4 million signing bonus. Kasay, 41, remained accurate on field goals, but the feeling was that he no longer had the leg strength to make long kicks. Mare’s 38 and still can make long field goals. But the biggest reason the change was made wasn’t about field goals. It was about kickoffs. The Panthers carried a kickoff specialist the past few years and didn’t want to waste a roster spot by doing that again. With the league moving kickoffs up 5 yards this year, the team believes Mare can produce a lot of touchbacks.
• Don’t overlook running back Mike Goodson. As long as Williams and Stewart are healthy, he’s not going to get a bunch of carries. But Goodson was one of the few bright spots from last season and the new coaching staff noticed him on film. He can do a lot out of different things out of the backfield, and the coaching staff believes there's a role for Goodson. Think of a scaled-down version of what New Orleans did with Reggie Bush and plans to do with Darren Sproles.
• Perhaps the most unsung move the Panthers made all offseason was hiring Mike Shula, the son of legendary coach Don Shula, as quarterbacks coach. He's had ups and downs as an NFL coordinator and college head coach at Alabama. But Shula has grown from it all and is a very good quarterbacks coach and teacher. If Shula can develop Newton or Clausen into a big-time quarterback, the world finally might give this guy his due.
• The return of right tackle Jeff Otah is more significant than many realize. Otah missed all of last season with a knee injury but is fully healthy now. That’s going to have a huge impact on the running game.
• Ryan Kalil signed his $10 million franchise tender and the team hasn’t talked to him about a long-term deal. But that’s simply because the front office has been so tied up making other moves. This team realizes Kalil is still young and already considered one of the best centers in the game. As soon as things settle down a bit, expect Kalil to be offered a big long-term deal.

BUFORD, Ga. -- I just arrived here to be in position to visit the Atlanta Falcons when they return to training camp Thursday. For those who don’t recognize the dateline, Buford is the town next to Flowery Branch, which isn’t exactly filled with a slew of hotel options.

I’ve got a couple of things I want to share with you. Through the wildest free-agency period in NFL history, we in the media have done a great job of quickly reporting signings and throwing out only the quick basics on contracts (years, total value and guaranteed money).

But sometimes when you see the actual breakdown of a contract, there’s much more (or sometimes less) to it than initially meets the eye. I’ve got the breakdown of the new contract Charles Johnson signed with the Panthers and also on the extension linebacker Jon Beason signed with Carolina.

Let’s start with Johnson’s deal because it’s massive and somewhat complex. It’s for six years and could be worth up to $76 million. It includes a $30 million signing bonus and a guaranteed $4 million base salary for this season. In short, Johnson’s hauling in $34 million this year.

In 2012, Johnson’s base salary will increase to $4.75 million and $2 million of that becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster on Feb. 15, 2012, which seems a certainty. Johnson also is scheduled to earn a $250,000 bonus for taking part in offseason workouts in 2012 and for each of the remaining years on his deal.

In 2013, Johnson’s base salary jumps to $6.75 million. In 2014, it goes to $8.75 million. In 2015, Johnson is scheduled to earn $9.75 million. The final year of the deal is 2016 and Johnson is scheduled to earn $10.75 million.

There are a lot of people around the league who are suggesting the Panthers overpaid for a defensive end who has had precisely one good year. The Panthers won’t even dispute that they at least understand that perception.

But the real thinking in making this offer to Johnson was motivated by the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers firmly believed the Falcons were going to make a very strong run at Johnson, who is a Georgia native. After letting Julius Peppers walk in free agency last year, the Panthers realized there was no way they could afford to lose Johnson, especially to a team that they face twice every year.

The Panthers knew they had to blow Atlanta’s offer out of the water and they did.

Now, let’s examine Beason’s contract. It’s a five-year extension for a player who already was under contract for this season. Beason’s deal now runs through 2016 and could be worth up to $51.6 million. Beason’s base salary for this season is $1.04 million, but he got a $20 million signing bonus.

In 2012, his base salary will be $1.25 million and he has a $250,000 workout bonus for every year on his contract after this one. In 2013, Beason’s base will jump to $5.25 million. In 2014, he’s scheduled to make $6.5 million.

Beason is scheduled to earn $7.5 million in 2015 and $8.5 million in 2016. The Panthers weren’t required to do this deal right away, but they made a smart move. Beason is the unquestioned leader of this defense and it made total sense to make sure he never got close to becoming a free agent next year.

Owner Jerry Richardson’s been accused of being cheap the last couple of years and there’s truth in that. But you can’t call Richardson cheap after what he’s already done this year.

Heck, let’s even throw in one kicker to all this. The Panthers added kicker Olindo Mare to a deal that’s pretty large. Mare’s four-year deal is worth up to $12 million. He got a $4 million signing bonus and will make $1 million in base salary this season. He’s scheduled to make $2.1 million in base salary in 2012 and a $100,000 workout bonus in each of the last three seasons on his contract.

In 2013, Mare’s scheduled to make $2.2 million and that figure jumps to $2.4 million in 2014. By the way, I don't have full contract numbers on the deals given to linebackers James Anderson and Thomas Davis just yet, but I hope to get them and share them with you in a few days. However, I'm told the Davis deal has some built-in protection for the team in case Davis isn't able to come back and be the same player he was before twice tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in less than a year.

Even before NFL owners ratified their end of the labor agreement last week, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson called his shot.

He stood in a hotel near the Atlanta airport and, in a rare interview, told the media his team would be aggressive in free agency, especially when it came to keeping its own players. That was music to the ears of Carolina fans, who hadn’t seen much spending out of the team in recent years.

The music just got a lot louder. The Panthers have agreed to terms to keep running back DeAngelo Williams. The deal is for five years and is worth $43 million with about $21 million in guaranteed money. That comes fewer than 24 hours after the Panthers announced they had an agreement with defensive end Charles Johnson, who reportedly can earn up to $72 million. Oh, and don’t forget the fact the Panthers also have agreed to terms with former Kansas City defensive tackle Ron Edwards on a deal that’s worth $8.25 million.

So, in less than a day, Richardson has committed to spending more than $120 million. And the day’s not over yet. Don’t be surprised if the Panthers reach agreements to keep linebackers James Anderson and Thomas Davis, and don’t be surprised if they complete deals with some free agents for other teams.

The lock is off Richardson’s checkbook and we’re seeing the flip side of what made for a painful couple of years in Carolina. The Panthers didn’t sign a single unrestricted free agent in 2009 or 2010 and they let several key players, mainly Julius Peppers, leave. They also let coach John Fox hang in limbo and that resulted in a painful 2-14 season in 2010.

I know Richardson didn’t want to go 2-14, but it was all part of his plan. He knew back in 2008 that a labor dispute was ahead as soon as the owners opted out of the old agreement. He refused to lock up long-term money on players or coaches because he wanted to protect his franchise and the hundreds of people who work for him who aren’t players or coaches.

It resulted in some rough times for the fans. But those days are over. Richardson’s spending and coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney are targeting the right players.

By keeping Williams, the Panthers should have one of the best backfields in the league. Yeah, they probably could have survived if they let Williams walk because they have Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson. But the prospect of Stewart and Goodson scared me. Stewart’s great when healthy, but he has a foot issue that dates back to college. Goodson’s a nice player, but isn’t a true No. 1 back and the Panthers could have been facing that possibility if something happened to Stewart.

Besides that, Williams is the best of the three. He’s an all-around back who can run inside or outside and catch passes out of the backfield. He also is a popular figure in the locker room.

Pretty amazing that a team that sat on its hands much of the past two seasons is suddenly the most active franchise in the NFC South. But that’s what happens when there is 10 years of labor peace on the horizon.

The Carolina Panthers did exactly what they said they would do coming out of the lockout.

They were very aggressive in retaining part of their core. Adam Schefter reports the Panthers have agreed to terms with defensive end Charles Johnson, who could have been one of the top defensive ends on the open market.

Johnson was expected to be a potential target for Atlanta and several other teams seeking a pass-rushing defensive end. Indications are that both the Falcons and the Denver Broncos, now coached by former Carolina coach John Fox, made strong runs at Johnson.

But keeping Johnson probably was the No. 1 priority for Carolina. It was so important that general manager Marty Hurney traveled to Miami to negotiate in person with Johnson.

The Panthers apparently refused to be outbid and gave Johnson a six-year deal that could be worth as much as $72 million with about $32 million guaranteed.

That’s a ton of money, but Johnson is coming off a breakout season in which he had 11.5 sacks. After letting Julius Peppers walk in free agency last year, the Panthers weren’t going to let the guy who replaced him get away.

With Johnson taken care of, the Panthers are expected to focus on trying to keep running back DeAngelo Williams and linebacker James Anderson.

With Johnson off the market, the Falcons will have to look elsewhere for a pass-rusher. Minnesota’s Ray Edwards might be the top remaining defensive end on the market.

When Kris Jenkins announced his retirement last week, I wrote about how I liked that the former defensive tackle for the Panthers and the Jets always said what was on his mind.

Well, we’ve got an audio example of that. Jenkins did a radio interview with Charlotte’s WFNZ on Monday morning and, holding back absolutely nothing, revealed the real reason why he retired, reflected on his time with the Panthers and had some praise and criticism of former coaches and teammates.

Jenkins said he’s been in a custody battle for years. He said he currently has primary custody of his oldest son and feared that a return to football might clear the way for him to lose custody.

“I can get back on the field,’’ Jenkins said. “I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve always said family comes first.’’

I urge you to listen to the interview in its entirety (and tell me Jenkins doesn’t have a future in broadcasting), but let’s run through a few of the highlights.

• "How much time do we have?" – when asked if he was too outspoken for the John Fox regime.
• "We just didn’t find a way to mesh." – on Fox.
• "I got to the Jets and I said, 'Fox was full of it.'"
• "When you’re out here, you’re a robot. That was the biggest thing." – on what he said was a corporate environment in Carolina.
• "The fans here are wishy-washy sometimes." -- on Carolina fans.
• "That was where it got past personal for me." – on his claim that team officials tried to tell him what he could and could not do on the field.
• "I like Julius. Julius was not a people person. If you understood that about him, it saved you a whole lot of trouble with other stuff." – on former teammate Julius Peppers.
• "You decided to be an owner." – on owner Jerry Richardson.
• "With him, it was a love-hate relationship. There’s not a more passionate guy out there going out to play wide receiver." – on Steve Smith.
• "He likes to pick on people that don’t deserve it." – more on Smith.
• "You can’t beat the crap out of your teammates." – more on Smith.
• "You’re dealing with hand puppet Mike Minter and you’re dealing with hand puppet Mike Rucker." – on two retired teammates, who Jenkins said were telling coaches and ownership about off-field behavior.
• "What is wrong with what I did? Whether it’s Bank of America or Wachovia, and your boss starts throwing crap at you, you’re either going to take it or you’re going to stand up for yourself." – on why he wanted out of Carolina.
• "Do not assume my brother and I have the same personality." – on if he’d tell his brother, Cullen, a free agent, not to sign with the Panthers.