Having finally signed his franchise tender with the Panthers, Julius Peppers might be open to remaining with the club. "Recently, I've had positive and productive discussions with the organization," Peppers said in a statement released by his agent. "I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season." After Carolina was eliminated from the postseason, Peppers said that he was "maxed out" with the Panthers.

Julius Peppers, Carolina's franchised all-pro defensive tackle, signed an offer sheet Wednesday, locking him up with the Panthers at least one more season after saying in January he wanted to be elsewhere. The deal makes Peppers perhaps the highest-paid player in the NFL with a one-year contract that could pay him up to $19.183 million this season. ?I've had positive and productive discussions with the organization,? Peppers said in a statement. . ?I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season.?

Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart claims that he'll be ready for training camp this summer. Stewart has been sidelined by pain in his left Achilles' tendon all offseason. He rushed for a Panthers rookie record 836 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Panthers linebacker Jon Beason is apparently the only person in the organization that has been in contract with Julius Peppers. "I talked to him last weekend," Beason said Tuesday. "He said he's doing good, he's training and he'll be ready to go when training camp gets here." Peppers has stated publicly that he wants to be traded, and the defensive end hasn't committed to training camp. "I'm hoping it's the first day," Beason said. "When I talked to him I said, 'Hey, if you come in, at least come in on the first day. Don't be like me.' "

The Panthers have shifted rookie defensive end Everette Brown to the right side as Julius Peppers' holdout continues. Brown could eventually find a home at right defensive end if Peppers, who is looking for a trade, doesn't return to Carolina. "Through college, probably 90 percent of my plays were on the right side," Brown said. "I wasn't a stranger to it." He has taken a majority of his snaps with the second-team defense, but that could change.

As time passes, it's becoming more and more likely that the Panthers will hold onto defensive end Julius Peppers. Carolina is hoping to make the postseason this coming season, and trading Peppers for future draft picks isn't going to help them accomplish that goal. Team officials believe Peppers will show up for training camp with other players at the beginning of August.

Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme hasn't given up on Dwayne Jarrett becoming a serious contributor. Delhomme believes that there is still time for Jarrett to emerge as a top-notch wide receiver. Jarrett has just 16 receptions in his first two NFL seasons. "We're waiting on Dwayne. He can truly help us and I expect him to help us," Delhomme said. Jarrett was selected with the 45th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Panthers coach John Fox, his assistants and the team's operations staff have combined to lose 500 pounds since the end of last season. "I don't quite feel like an old German shepherd anymore," said offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson, who dropped 71 pounds. "I think it's helped me dramatically. It just didn't make me better looking." The program, a take on "The Biggest Loser" was the brainchild of trainer Ryan Vermillion, who became alarmed late last season at the staff's bulging waistlines. "I felt they needed it for themselves and for their own health," Vermillion said. "I didn't want them to have cardiovascular problems. I didn't want them to have physical problems."