CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The Carolina Panthers don't expect to throw big money at free agents this month.
They've already made perhaps their riskiest move by keeping one of their own players.
As NFL free agency began Friday, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney defended his decision a day earlier to restructure linebacker Dan Morgan's contract and keep him on the roster despite his history of concussions.
``In December he was cleared by what we're told was one of the most respected concussion specialists in the league,'' Hurney said. ``At the Senior Bowl, I met with his agent (Drew Rosenhaus) and he said Dan wanted to play for the Panthers again and wanted to continue playing in the NFL, period. Our doctors had been reviewing all the battery of tests Dan went through and had been in touch with the concussion specialist.''
Still, the final decision wasn't made until this week, after Hurney met with Morgan, Rosenhaus, coach John Fox and team doctors.
``Our doctors went over all the pertinent information with Dan and his agent,'' Hurney said. ``At that point, Dan reiterated that he wanted to continue his playing career and play for us.''
Morgan has suffered at least five concussions since 2003, including two in less than a month last year. After the second concussion - in the season opener against Atlanta - doctors told him to sit out the rest of the season.
Studies have shown that players who have suffered multiple concussions are susceptible to more concussions with less contact. There are also concerns about the long-term affects.
The New York Times reported in January that brain damage caused on the football field ultimately led to the suicide of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andre Waters. Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said he believes multiple concussions have left him absent-minded and frequently depressed.
But Morgan, a Pro Bowl pick in 2004, has said he has no reservations about returning.
``Not at all. I feel fine and from the outside people are always going to draw their own conclusions about how I feel and what happened,'' Morgan said in January. ``But I feel great. I've had a lot of time to heal up. I feel ready to play and I'm excited to come back next season.''
With Morgan returning and with linebacker Na'il Diggs signing a one-year contract Friday, the Panthers are bringing back 21 of 22 starters from last year's disappointing 8-8 team.
``Sometimes human nature is trying to tear everything apart when there is disappointment, but I don't think that's the right way to go,'' Hurney said. ``I think we feel good about our nucleus. It's when you keep that and you can add key components in the draft and try to get some rights, if they're there, in free agency, I think we can improve as a football team.''
The Panthers will probably try to sign another linebacker as insurance for Morgan. The Panthers also need help on the offensive line, at tight end and in the return game. But Hurney is content to sit out the first two weeks of free agency when most of the big deals happen.
It's unlike last year, when the Panthers gave big contracts to free agents Keyshawn Johnson, Justin Hartwig and Maake Kemoeatu.
``We kind of broke character with what our plan was with free-agency over the past few years and we were a little aggressive in free agency and made some bold moves,'' Hurney said. ``But we did that because we thought that was the best time to do it and those deals would hold up over time.
``We really had planned for quite some time not be going into the high waters of free agency this year.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
