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Carolina Panthers cut DE Charles Johnson

By The Sports Xchange
Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis lifts the NFC championship trophy as he and defensive end Charles Johnson, left, celebrate after the Panthers defeat the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 24, 2016. Photo by Brian Westerholt/UPI
Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis lifts the NFC championship trophy as he and defensive end Charles Johnson, left, celebrate after the Panthers defeat the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 24, 2016. Photo by Brian Westerholt/UPI | License Photo

Defensive end Charles Johnson was released by the Carolina Panthers, who will save $11 million against the 2016 salary cap.

Johnson started at left end for the NFC champions and was a third-round draft pick in 2007. He turns 30 in July and joins recently released Mario Williams, cut Tuesday by the Buffalo Bills, on the market of veteran pass rushers available before free agency begins March 9.

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"Charles was an impact player for the Carolina Panthers for a long time, both on and off the field," general manager Dave Gettleman said in a statement Thursday. "His statistics speak for themselves, and as a team captain he led the way you want your leaders to lead -- by example. I wish him the best moving forward."

In his nine NFL seasons all with Carolina, Johnson had 63.5 sacks but just recorded just 1.0 in nine games in 2015.

He signed a six-year, $72 million deal in July 2011, including a $30 million signing bonus. The Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos also made bids for Johnson.

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The Hawkinsville, Ga., native said at the time that he eschewed family opinion to stay in Carolina.

One team fit for Johnson this spring could be Atlanta, where second-year head coach Dan Quinn wants to upgrade his pass rush opposite Vic Beasley, the Falcons' first-round pick in 2015.

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