One would think the Panthers would be flattered about the raves they're receiving from five of the more established NFL preseason magazines. After all, all five have the Panthers reaching the Super Bowl, and three have them winning it. But based on last season's Roman numeral picks from the Big Five, perhaps Carolina should be wary.

Tony Softli was selected vice president for player personnel, the Rams said Tuesday. Softli, who was formerly director of college scouting for the Panthers, will lead the player personnel department that will include longtime general manager Charley Armey, whose new title is vice president for pro personnel.

Reports were circulating this week that Steve Smith and the Panthers were discussing a new contract; this turned out to not be true, but the two sides are interested in discussing a deal in the future. Smith's under contract through 2009, making anything that happens a long-term proposition, the kind of deal that would allow him to retire a Panther. Combined with the fact he just turned 27 a month ago, that makes such talk premature. He signed a six-year, $26-million extension in March 2004. For their money, the Panthers bought a year on IR followed by the league's best receiving season. The next deal will take him to a new financial level, one certainly surpassing the recent Chad Johnson deal (a six-year extension worth a reported $35.5 million).