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Jake Delhomme seems to be recovering just fine in his comeback from Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. Delhomme threw for three straight days at minicamp this past weekend, looking strong while throwing mostly passes of distances not exceeding 20 yards. Delhomme did throw some 30- and 40-yard passes on the final day of minicamp. Delhomme worked only in individual drills at last Friday's minicamp, but could return to team work when the Panthers reconvene for OTAs in June.

The Panthers selected Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart with the 13th overall pick and then traded back into the first round, moving up 24 spots to snare offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Pitt. They paid a steep price, surrendering their second (43rd) and fourth round (109th) picks this year and their first-round pick in 2009.

"You never want to give up (a first-round pick), but that says a lot about how we feel about Jeffrey Otah," general manager Marty Hurney said. "The two players together really help us toward our goal, the personality, the character of what we want to be. They are two very physical players who will help the character of our offense and of our team."

The Carolina Panthers added more depth at defensive tackle with the signing of free agent Ian Scott.

The move came a day after the Panthers came to terms with Darwin Walker on a one-year deal. Walker and Scott signed their contracts Tuesday, giving the Panthers' much needed help on the defensive line.

CLEARLY, Fox & Hurney are playing to win NOW and not build for the future giving up the 2009 1st round pick. Jeff Otah better be worth it! (If they played for the future...they could have gotten Brian Brohm!)

The Carolina Panthers spent the first day of the draft giving up a lot in hopes of quickly fixing their stagnant offense and returning to the playoffs after a two-year absence.

The Panthers selected Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart with their 13th overall pick on Saturday, then pulled off a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to get the 19th pick, where they took tackle Jeff Otah of Pittsburgh. The move gives Carolina two bruising players and bolsters an offense that struggled last season. But it came at a price.

The Panthers gave the Eagles their second- and fourth-round picks this year, and next year's first-round pick.

"You never want to give that up, but I think that says a lot about what we feel about Jeffrey Otah," general manager Marty Hurney said. "The two players together help us toward our goal, the personality and character whatever you want to call it. They're two very physical players."

13. Panthers Branden Albert OG 6-6 320 Virginia Junior

Guards usually don't get drafted in the top 15. In fact, no guard has been selected in the Top 20 since Steve Hutchinson went at No. 17 to the Seahawks in '01. Albert's something special, though. Capable of playing all over the line, he's a top-flight athlete worthy of this high selection.  

The Seattle Seahawks released former MVP Shaun Alexander, just 26 months after he signed a $62 million contract as the franchise's cornerstone.

Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said Tuesday the team released Alexander unconditionally hours after the running back passed a physical. It's been a rapid fall for the 30-year-old. When he signed that mammoth deal, he was coming off an MVP season in 2005 and a Super Bowl appearance. Now he's looking for work, coming off of two unimpressive and injury filled seasons.

The Panthers are expected to fill needs at offensive tackle, running back, defensive end, defensive tackle and safety in the draft.

There has been some talk the Panthers might have an interest in quarterback Matt Ryan, but that's highly, highly unlikely for a number of reasons.

First of all, coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney have said in the past they don't like the idea of drafting quarterbacks early because it takes them too long to develop and it's not worth the monetary commitment. Often they aren't ready until their fourth or fifth year.

Second, Fox and Hurney aren't exactly on solid footing in Carolina after consecutive non-winning seasons. In other words, they need to win now.

Not big enough! Need a POWERBACK !!!

U need a pic homie

Week 1 Thursday, Sept. 4 Washington Redskins at New York Giants 7 p.m. NBC

Sunday, Sept. 7 Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 1 p.m. CBS New York Jets at Miami Dolphins 1 p.m. CBS Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots 1 p.m. CBS Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m. CBS Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans 1 p.m. CBS Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons 1 p.m. FOX Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills 1 p.m. FOX Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints 1 p.m. FOX St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles 1 p.m. FOX Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns 4:15 p.m. FOX Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers 4:15 p.m. FOX Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers 4:15 p.m. FOX Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts 8:15 p.m. NBC Monday, Sept. 8 Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers 7 p.m. ESPN Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders 10:15 p.m. ESPN

The good -- or not so good -- thing about still having two weeks to go before the NFL draft is that we can dissect the Carolina Panthers' possible picks in minute detail.

Today, we look at the case for choosing a running back in the first round.

The general consensus for weeks has been that the Panthers will take an offensive tackle. That's still probably the leading option, as you'll see in our mock draft in today's paper.

But think about Carolina's lineup next season if they pick Illinois' Rashard Mendenhall or Oregon's Jonathan Stewart with the 13th overall pick.

Add me please

Clemson went into spring drills with such a solid group of returning veterans that the Tigers could afford to look at several players in new positions.

Rendrick Taylor, who has 46 receptions in 27 games in three injury-plagued years at wide receiver, opened the spring at linebacker. After just four practices, however, he moved back to offense, but at running back, not receiver. Running back is a loaded position at Clemson, however, with James Davis and C.J. Spiller heading the list, but at 6-2, 246, Taylor could be a strong inside runner. He'll get a chance for more work because Davis slightly injured his shoulder in a scrimmage and coach Tommy Bowden wisely decided to sit him down for the final couple of weeks of workouts.

Don't stay a tee-baller. Say what's up sometime!

Like the Ravens and Bears, the Panthers are a team that needs a ready-to-play quarterback but isn't likely to find value for one at its current position in the first round. Thus, expect Carolina to wait until the 43rd pick to select its QB of the future, and to address other needs at No. 13. The Panthers had major trouble rushing the quarterback last year, so a complement to Julius Peppers figures to be the first-round target for the embattled John Fox and his club. Another possibility, depending on how the dominoes fall, is offensive line help. Ex-starters Justin Hartwig (Steelers) and Mike Wahle (Seahawks) have both changed addresses in the offseason. Locating additional depth in the secondary and in the backfield figure to be later-round priorities.

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