The Carolina Panthers

Thanks to the rookie wage scale implemented in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that owner Jerry Richardson played a major role in negotiating, the Panthers were able to invest the excess money they would have spent on Newton back into their own players. Hurney slapped Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil with the franchise tag in February. In July he signed free agent defensive end Charles Johnson to a six-year contract with a $30 million signing bonus (darn near Julius Peppers money!) and running back DeAngelo Williams to a five-year deal worth $43 million ($21 million guaranteed). Stud linebacker Jon Beason also had his deal extended five years at $50 million ($25 million guaranteed).