In addition to jettisoning Tre Boston, the Panthers parted ways with two other contributors Friday. They released three-year punter Michael Palardy and 2020 defensive end starter Stephen Weatherly.
Together, these moves will create nearly $8MM in cap space for the Panthers. Combined with the releases of Boston and Kawann Short this week, the franchise will save around $16.4MM. Both Palardy and Weatherly were released with failed-physical designations, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
The Panthers signed Palardy midway through the 2016 season, picking him up after placing previous punter Andy Lee on IR. Carolina kept Palardy around for the next three seasons, doing so via three-year, $7.52MM extension. One season remained on that deal. Palardy, 28, suffered a torn ACL last summer, leading the Panthers to use rookie UDFA Joseph Charlton as their punter.
Weatherly, 26, inked a two-year, $12.5MM deal with the Panthers last March and opened the season as the team’s defensive end starter opposite Brian Burns. Weatherly suffered a finger injury that required surgery, sending him to IR after nine games. The Panthers then turned to second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos. Both Burns and Gross-Matos can be controlled through the 2023 season on their rookie contracts.
A seventh-round Vikings pick in 2016, Weatherly has managed to stick around beyond his rookie deal. He recorded six sacks between the 2018 and ’19 seasons and replaced Mario Addison as a Panthers starter last year. The Vanderbilt product did not register a sack with the Panthers, however.
Yet another former Viking who left the frozen tundra in search of the Golden Fleece is kicked to the curb…..
See: Easton, Nick.
Because both were overpaid as free agents. $3 million per year would have been a better rate.
Panthers must have a boatload of confidence in their offense. Imagine the guts of playing the 2021-2022 season WITHOUT a Punter !!
Looks like the Panthers are preparing to do something stupid. Yes, they are up against the cap, but you can’t win even five (5) games with a college roster.
MileHighFan I don’t see the problem with any of their cuts. It’s just a few more declining vets from the Cam era and a few guys coming off a injury season headed out the door. Next year is another building/transition year for them.
A few of these guys can go play smaller roles on a real contender