Morgan, Witherspoon both trying for new contracts

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Carolina linebackers Dan Morgan and Will Witherspoon both said Sunday that contract talks with the Panthers are slowly progressing. Witherspoon wants his deal done before the season begins, but Morgan isn't in as big a hurry.

Both players are in the final years of their contracts and the Panthers have been in discussion with both of their agents. Morgan switched representation during the offseason, signing on with Drew Rosenhaus to negotiate his new deal.

He said he wasn't upset that a deal didn't get done before training camp began.

"I'm pretty much going to leave it up to my agent and what I do is play football," Morgan said. "It's what I love to do. I'm not disappointed, I'm out here doing what I love to do, I'm having fun.

"Whatever happens is going to happen."

Witherspoon, meanwhile, is a little bit more antsy.

He said he's read Internet reports and gotten e-mails about his situation, and is never sure what is true or false.

"The best one I have seen this offseason is that I was preparing for a holdout, I was like 'Hey, I didn't know I was holding out!' " he said. "I called my agent and said 'Did you know I was holding out?' It was hilarious."

But he admitted he would prefer to get a deal done with the Panthers so he can focus on the upcoming season.

"That is the last thing I want on my mind during the season," he said. "It's bad enough it's on my mind during two-a-days. Getting this caller, or that text message or this or that... it weighs on you some, you've got to learn to put it in the back of your mind and focus on practice.

"I definitely want to stay, I love being here. I've known this team and this coaching staff and part of it is being comfortable. But at the same time you want to be out there saying this is a business decision and you've got to be looking forward to making the best of it."