Wednesday March 17, 2010

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers will have at least
one starting defensive lineman returning next season after agreeing
on a three-year deal with defensive end Tyler Brayton.

Agent Tom Mills says the 30-year-old Brayton visited Seattle and
had conversations with Oakland and Jacksonville, but is happy to
return to Carolina.

Brayton signed a two-year contract before the start of the 2008
season and has started 31 games over the past two years. He was
eighth on the team with 45 tackles last season and had five sacks.

He'll likely be paired with much younger players next season.
The Panthers let defensive end Julius Peppers leave for Chicago in
free agency and cut starting tackle Damione Lewis and Maake
Kemoeatu.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)