Carolina Panthers: Still seeking to add cornerback help, the Carolina Panthers have re-signed unrestricted free agent Emmanuel McDaniel, who played in all 16 games for the team in 2002 and had five starting assignments.

McDaniel, 30, is an accomplished "nickel" defender, will likely vie for that role in camp, and affords the Panthers another experienced player at a position where a club can never have enough proven performers. The six-year veteran signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $530,000, the minimum for a player of his tenure.

In stints with Carolina (1996, 2002), Indianapolis (1997) and the New York Giants (1999-2001), the former East Carolina standout has appeared in 60 games and started 10 times. He has 100 tackles, eight interceptions and 25 passes defensed.

Last year, McDaniel recorded 28 tackles, two interceptions and six passes defensed. His best season came in 2000, when he registered six interceptions, and played a key role as the Giants captured the NFC championship.

The Panthers further tidied up their camp roster a bit by releasing four players: defensive tackle Mario Fatafehi, safety Julian Jones, wide receiver Bashir Yamini and cornerback Adedola Badon. Of the foursome, only Fatafehi played in the league in 2002, appearing in six games for the Panthers.

--Len Pasquarelli

Green Bay Packers: Defensive end Earl Cochran, one of the five players in last week's supplemental draft who were not selected, has signed a three-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. It is believed the deal includes standard rookie minimum base salaries of $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004) and $380,000 (2005).

The former Alabama State standout recorded 62 tackles, 9 ½ sacks and 18 quarterback pressures in 2002. Some felt he might be chosen with a late pick in the supplemental lottery last Thursday but, as it turned out, former Georgia Tech tailback Tony Hollings was the lone prospect taken. Cochran and the four other undrafted player then became free agents.

While he played last season at 224 pounds, Cochran weighed in at 260-265 pounds in some recent workouts and was clocked at under 4.9 in the 40-yard dash. He will vie for a backup role on the Green Bay roster. The Packers also signed free agent wide receiver Kamau Peterson, who played two seasons in the NFL, signed this spring with the New York Jets, and was subsequently waived.

--Len Pasquarelli

Oakland Raiders:"Mr. Irrelevant" can at least open a relevant checking account now.

Wide receiver Ryan Hoag, the final prospect selected in the 2003 draft, on Tuesday signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. As the 262nd player chosen nearly three months ago, Hoag faces a difficult challenge trying to dent the deep Oakland wide receiver depth chart, but he is a promising players with size and skills.

The former Gustavus Adolphus College star received a $16,000 signing bonus and his base salaries will be $225,000 (2003) and $305,000 (2004). The signing bonus is the smallest for any of the draft choices leaguewide who have agreed to terms, and the two-year deal is the shortest.

Hoag, 23, had 144 catches for 2,232 yards and 29 touchdowns in college. He appeared in 31 games and started all but one of them.

--Len Pasquarelli

Chicago Bears: The Chicago Bears have thinned out their quarterback depth chart, releasing two-year veteran Henry Burris, a move that left the team with four players at the position. Burris, 28, was released after the Bears medical staff determined that he had sufficiently healed from a left knee injury sustained while playing in the NFL Europe League this spring.

Burris played sparingly, and not particularly well, for the Bears in 2002. He completed 18 of 51 passes for 207 yards, with three touchdown passes and five interceptions. A former Temple star, he spent the early portion of his career in the CFL, where he was one of the top passers in the league.

Cory Sauter will go to camp now as the Bears' fourth quarterback, behind starter Kordell Stewart, veteran Chris Chandler and first-round draft choice Rex Grossman.

One irony in the release of Burris. The agent who worked so tirelessly to get him a chance to play in the NFL, Cliff Stein, now handles the Bears' contract negotiations.

--Len Pasquarelli

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Just three days before players report to training camp, the Bucs on Tuesday made a roster addition, signing safety Greg Brown to a one-year contract. Brown, 23, was one of the top defenders in the NFL Europe League this spring.

Playing for the Rhein Fire and starting every game, Brown had 60 tackles, three interceptions, 10 passes defensed and a forced fumble. The former University of Texas standout was in the Denver Broncos' camp two summers and spent some time on the practice squad.

Brown has good size, likely not enough speed to play regularly, and will probably have to earn a spot with his special teams skills.

In other Bucs-related news, in the latest move toward what Hugh Green hopes will eventually be a coaching career in the NFL, the former Bucs star linebacker has joined the staff of the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. Not surprisingly, Green will work with the team's linebackers.

Green, 43, was a two-time Pro Bowl performer during his 11 seasons (1981-91) with the Bucs and one of the team's all-time best defenders.

He recently indicated a desire to begin a coaching career and served as a defensive aide for NFL Europe's Barcelona Dragons this spring.

--Len Pasquarelli

New York Jets: The New York Jets have signed safety Derek Pagel of Iowa, the higher of their two choices in the fifth round, and he becomes the first of the team's seven selections to come to contract terms. New York is close to a deal with third-round choice B.J. Askew, a fullback from the University of Michigan.

Pagel, 23, signed a four-year contract that included a $162,000 signing bonus. The base salaries are $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004), $380,000 (2005) and $460,000 (2006). There is an escalator component that will raise the 2006 base salary if Pagel achieves certain predetermined playing time levels.

In 46 games at Iowa, he had 19 starts and finished with 154 tackles, five interceptions, and 14 passes defensed.

--Len Pasquarelli