Former Minnesota OL signs with division rivals
By "Bucky Katz"

Off-Season 2115 (Charlotte) - The Carolina Panthers added some protection for young QB Griffin Hinnant this week when they signed Randy Ayso to a $15 million per year contract.

Ayso becomes the new left tackle to protect Hinnant's blind side.

'It's nice to see they are getting me some beef up front,' Hinnant said.

The Panthers have a lot of young lineman with the recent draft, but Ayso gives them a veteran leader for the next few seasons.

'We scouted Randy and liked what we saw,' GM 'Trader' Lee Remley told reporters at the press conference announcing the signing.

The signing puts the Panthers close to the cap, somewhere they haven't been for a few seasons.

'That just goes to show how committed we are to turning this thing around,' Remley pointed out.

Given that many observers felt Carolina was in rebuilding mode, that was a surprising statement to some people.