NFL Panthers sign Peppers

Mar 12, 2017 - 12:20 AM The Carolina Panthers signed unrestricted free agent defensive end Julius Peppers to a one-year NFL contract on Saturday.

The Panthers also announced the signing of free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn to a four-year contract as they return both players.

Peppers will receive $US3.5 million ($A4.6 million) with incentives that could pay up to $4.25 million, according to ESPN. Munnerlyn's deal is worth a reported $21 million, with $10.5 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus.

The 2.01 m, 129 kg Peppers began his career with the Panthers, playing eight seasons (2002-09) after being selected with the No.2 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. The 37-year-old returns to the Panthers after playing four seasons (2010-13) with the Chicago Bears and three (2014-16) with the Green Bay Packers.

Munnerlyn spent the past three seasons (2014-16) with the Minnesota Vikings, after beginning his career with the Panthers, playing five seasons (2009-13) there.

Meantime, the Dallas Cowboys still want a trade partner for veteran Tony Romo, but haven't found any teams willing to take on the 36-year-old quarterback's contract.

League sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Dallas won't trade Romo to a city in which he does not want to play and teams interested in him believe the Cowboys will eventually release the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Romo's 2017 salary cap number of $24.7 million stands as the highest of any quarterback in the NFL next season. A new contract would be part of any trade negotiation with Romo, including his current base salary of $14 million.

Source: AAP