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Hurney signed through 2009

Carolina Panthers: General manager Marty Hurney signed a contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2009 season.

The extension, which had been anticipated this offseason, was confirmed by Panthers owner Jerry Richardson. Details of the extension, which provides additional stability to the Carolina front office, were not available. But the deal, a reward for the manner in which Hurney and coach John Fox have revived the franchise, represents a substantial raise.

"I can't imagine us being in a better situation between us in ownership and the people that are running our [football] business," Richardson told the Charlotte Observer. "We really do not get into football stuff. I have great confidence in the way [Hurney and Fox] work together."

Hurney, 49, was named general manager in 2002 after having previously served as the Panthers' salary cap expert and chief contract negotiator. Hurney was instrumental in the hiring of Fox after a 1-15 campaign in 2001 under George Seifert. Carolina is 28-24 under Fox and Hurney.

Detroit Lions: Unrestricted free agent Marcus Bell, who performed well for the Lions in 2004 after he was claimed on waivers, has reached a contract agreement in principle to return to the team. The three-year contract is worth $3.6 million and includes a $1 million signing bonus.

The four-year veteran defensive tackle appeared in all 16 games for the Lions last season, and had 27 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. He was claimed on waivers from the Arizona Cardinals and quickly emerged as the viable No. 3 tackle that the Lions had been seeking to play behind starters Shaun Rogers and Dan Wilkinson. Late in the season, Detroit officials began talking to bell about a potential extension.

Bell, 25, was a fourth-round pick by the Cardinals in the 2001 draft. He played three years in Arizona before being waived. The 6-feet-2, 339-pounder is a solid defender versus the run and has 107 tackles and 5½ sacks in 58 career appearances.

San Diego Chargers: Defensive end Jacques Cesaire re-signed with
the club.

Cesaire played in all 16 regular-season games, starting the last
12. He had 24 tackles, a half sack and three pass deflections. He
also started the playoff loss to the New York Jets and had two
tackles.

Cesaire is entering his third NFL season. He originally joined
the Chargers as a rookie free agent from Southern Connecticut State
in 2003.

New York Giants: The club released Barry Stokes, a seven-year veteran offensive lineman who never appeared in a game for the team.

Stokes, 31, was supposed to be one of the Giants' key acquisitions as an unrestricted free agent last spring, a proven and versatile blocker who would add depth and perhaps even vie for a starting job. But Stokes sustained a back injury in preseason, underwent surgery to correct a disc problem, and subsequently was placed on injured reserve.

In stints with Miami (1998), Oakland (1999), Green Bay (2000-01) and Cleveland (2002-03), Stokes played in 56 games and started 32 times. His best seasons were with the Browns, when he started 29 games over two seasons.

New York also released wide receiver Tony Johnson and punter Eddie Johnson, both of whom were signed as free agents earlier this year. The two players had been allocated to the NFL Europe League but failed to make an NFLE roster.

Green Bay Packers: The team signed veteran guard Matt O'Dwyer to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum $765,000.

O'Dwyer's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday that an agreement was reached on the one-year deal. O'Dwyer will receive a $25,000 signing bonus, but his entire deal will count just $455,000 against the salary cap because of a veteran's exemption.

The 32-year-old O'Dwyer missed all but the final four games last season with Tampa Bay because of a chest injury. He also played for the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals from 1996-03.

O'Dwyer will have the chance to compete for a starting job because of the departure of guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera in
free agency. The Packers signed New England free agent LG Adrian Klemm last week.

San Francisco 49ers: Defensive end Tony Brown, who played in 16 games for the 49ers in '04, has re-signed with the team. His one-year contract is for $305,000.

The former University of Memphis star was claimed on waivers by the 49ers following his release by the Miami Dolphins. He became a productive "swing player" on the San Francisco defensive front, alternating between end and tackle, and started four games. Brown had 22 tackles and one sack.

Arizona Cardinals: The team retained the rights to
defensive tackle Ross Kolodziej when the restricted free agent
signed a one-year tender offer.

Kolodziej started four games last season and appeared in nine
others, setting career highs with nine tackles and one sack.

A former seventh-round draft pick of the New York Giants in 2001, Kolodziej was released by the Giants in 2002. He signed with San Francisco, was waived again and ended up with the Giants, but never got into a game that season.

He was out of football in 2003 and signed with Arizona in April 2004.

Seattle Seahawks: The club claimed
defensive end Joe Tafoya off waivers.

Tafoya was a seventh-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers in 2001, but was released and joined Chicago later that
season. He played three seasons for the Bears, playing in 35 games
with one start for 19 tackles and half a sack.

The Bears released him before the 2004 season. He was signed by
the Atlanta Falcons after the season.

Information from ESPN.com senior NFL writer Len Pasquarelli and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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