The Carolina Panthers signed free-agent linebacker Keith Adams to add depth at a position that has been decimated this offseason. Carolina lost two starters this winter -- Will Witherspoon signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Rams and Brandon Short was released in a salary-cap move.

The Carolina Panthers signed free-agent linebacker Keith Adams to add depth at a position that has been decimated this offseason. Carolina lost two starters this winter -- Will Witherspoon signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Rams and Brandon Short was released in a salary-cap move.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has named eight owners to the committee that will search for his successor. The committee is to be co-chaired by Dan Rooney of Pittsburgh and Jerry Richardson of Carolina. The other members are Jerry Jones of Dallas, Al Davis of Oakland, Lamar Hunt of Kansas City, Woody Johnson of the New York Jets, Mike McCaskey of Chicago and Robert Kraft of New England. Tagliabue has announced plans to retire at the end of July but has said he will stay in office until his successor is named.