That helped ease some of the burden of three players who reached escalators in their contracts and saw an increase in their 2009 base salaries -- running back Jonathan Stewart, defensive end Tyler Brayton and linebacker Thomas Davis.

Stewart's '09 base salary jumped from $1.74 million to $2.74 million after he ran for 836 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Davis' 136 tackles helped triple his 2009 base salary from $700,000 to $2.2 million. And Brayton will get an additional $300,000, increasing his base salary from $1.8 million to $2.1 million. He started all 16 games last season and had 59 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Like defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu, the Panthers extended Diggs' contract from 2010 to 2014. His base salary this year dipped $725,000 (from $1.65 million to $925,000) but that money will be guaranteed and the Panthers can spread it out over the life the contract for cap purposes. Although he's unlikely to play out the full remainder of his contract, Diggs' base salaries for the rest of the deal are $925,000 in 2010, $855,000 in 2011, $865,000 in 2011, $1,172,500 in 2012, $1,480,000 in 2013 and $1,787,500 in 2014.

Earlier the Panthers extended the contracts of Lewis and Kemoeatu, allowing them to free up about $3.6 million under the cap.

Kemoeatu was due to make $3.9 million in 2009 and $2.9 million in 2010.

By turning a portion of those base salaries into a signing bonus, the Panthers freed up $1.6 million. Kemoeatu will now make base salaries of $2 million in 2009, $750,000 in 2010, $1.485 million in 2011, $2.115 million in 2012, $2.745 million in 2013 and $3.375 million in 2014. He receives more money in his pocket right away.

Coincidentally, those are the exact same base salaries over six seasons that Lewis will get.

Lewis was due a $2.5 million roster bonus this year, which the Panthers already had the contractual right to convert into a signing bonus in order to pro-rate it over future years. He helped the team by freeing up $2 million in cap space.

--The Panthers submitted tenders to three of their four restricted free agents, assuring tight end Jeff King, linebacker James Anderson and safety Nate Salley will be around when the team opens training camp.

King received the second-round tender of $1.545 million from the Panthers, according to his agent Rick Smith. That means if another team wanted to sign King to an offer sheet they'd have to be willing to give up a second-round draft pick. That's not likely to happen, so King will be back. Mostly known for his blocking, the third-year pro had 21 receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown last season.

Anderson and Salley were given the low tender of $1.01 million, so they'll be at training camp too.

Defensive tackle Gary Gibson did not receive a tender and became a free agent.

--The Panthers have five unrestricted free agents left on the market, none of which are viewed as vital cogs in the team's success other than long snapper Jason Kyle.

Returner Mark Jones, linebackers Adam Seward and Donte Curry and defensive tackle Darwin Walker remain free agents.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We feel like we have good, young players. The focus is to keep those good, young players as far as extending them now and putting yourself in a position to extend them in the future and then drafting well. That's always been what we would like to do and what we would like to make our philosophy.... (If) you look at our situation, we've got our starters back from last year, we've got a good part of our nucleus back, and I think we're in a situation where we have a good young core that has either headed into or is heading into their second contracts. I think it's a good situation to be in." -- Panthers general manager Marty Hurney.