David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

DT Colin Cole brings leadership, perspective to Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- One of the more interesting stops during the open locker room period for the Carolina Panthers is near the far end, where No. 91 Colin Cole has resided the past two seasons.

Cole has a way of putting things into perspective like few others.

So it came as no surprise on Tuesday the perspective he put on the Panthers signing him to a one-year extension at an age -- he'll be 35 in June -- when most NFL defensive tackles are contemplating retirement or already enjoying it.

"It's just like a tire not being driven for however long," said Cole, who was out of football for almost 2½ years after being released by Seattle in 2011. "That tire still has tread on it."

More on that later.

Cole also put in perspective where the Panthers, in his opinion, appear to be with defensive end Greg Hardy, a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent not expected to be re-signed when free agency begins on March 10.

While Cole is among many Carolina players who would welcome back Hardy, who has remained on the commissioner's exempt list since his domestic violence charges were dropped on Feb. 9, he understands why management might think otherwise.

It goes beyond the perception of Hardy in terms of his May 13 arrest for the charges of assaulting and threatening to kill ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder. It goes beyond a Mecklenburg County judge dropping the charges on Feb. 9 because Holder refused to cooperate with the district attorney's office after reaching a financial settlement with Hardy.

It has to do with what it could cost to re-sign Hardy and how the team played last season with the 2013 Pro Bowl selection participating in only one game.

After a slow start, the Panthers finished in the top 10 in total defense for the third straight season.

"That plays a big factor," Cole said. "That plays a big factor in everybody's career. In order to stay relevant in this business, you have to be able to last physically [and be on the field]. And then when you have a situation where you're out a couple of months or a year and the team is forced to find the next guy, if somebody comes in and does their job well, especially when it comes to doing it for less pay, you can move on without him."

Cole may be old in the NFL in terms of his age, but he's all the wiser for it.

After signing a five-year, $21 million deal in 2009 with Seattle, Cole was released prior to the 2011 season. He was unable to be ready for the opener because of an ankle injury, and the team already had moved on to Brandon Mebane at nose tackle. The team also had signed free-agent tackle Alan Branch.

So Cole not only sat out the 2011 season but the entire 2012 season before the Panthers called in 2013. He thinks the time away from the game actually extended his career.

"I figure I've got three or four more years," Cole said. "I don't see myself done after this year."

Cole is what general manager Dave Gettleman calls a space-eater. He eats up blocks so linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis can make tackles.

He's also a leader. Although not outspoken, he helps teammates keep things in proper perspective.

That he could be had for a low price -- $1.05 million with a salary-cap number of only $665,000 -- also is a plus.

"What I was told was everybody loved having me around, that they feel I'm a core player, a key contributor," Cole said. "They said they wanted to bring me back because I add great depth and experience."

And he puts things into perspective like few others in the Carolina locker room.

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