Carolina Panthers
Drayton Florence - #29 - CB
| Status | Active |
| Height/Weight | 6' 0"/ 193 lbs. |
| Birthday | 12/19/1980 |
| Birthplace | Waycross, GA |
| College | Tuskegee |
| Years played | 11 |
| Drafted | 2003, 2nd round, 14th pick by Chargers |
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The Panthers are counting on Brandon Hogan and Josh Norman to battle Captain Munnerlyn for the starting job at RCB in training camp.
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Panthers DE Johnson to miss OTAs
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Panthers not yet ready to make LB shift
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Panthers DE Johnson undergoes minor surgery
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Newton: Improvement as NFL QB 'through the roof'
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PLAYER NEWS
The Detroit Lions have signed cornerback Drayton Florence.|||||||
The 31-year-old Florence has played nine seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. He was released Friday by the Denver Broncos. Florence started all 16 games the past two seasons for the Bills. Lions coach Jim Schwartz says he can bring experience to Detroit's secondary.
The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with Florence, who was released by the Buffalo Bills last week.|||||||
Florence is a 10th-year pro whose release from the Bills was regarded as a mild surprise. He had 45 starts in 46 games during his three-year stint with Buffalo. But he was slated to make $4 million in base salary this season and the Bills took South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore and LSU cornerback Ron Brooks in the draft.
Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Drayton Florence has a sprained ankle that will keep him out of the team's preseason opener at Chicago next weekend.|||||||
Coach Chan Gailey spoke after practice Sunday, saying Florence will miss up to a week. The defensive back was hurt a day earlier when he landed awkwardly while defending a receiver in the end zone. The eight-year NFL veteran was the Bills' most consistent cornerback last season. He re-signed with the team prior to training camp.
Florence practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day Thursday, though it's unlikely he'll be ready for Sunday's opener after missing three weeks with a knee injury.|||||||
Florence is a reserve cornerback and has no fantasy value even when healthy.
The Buffalo Bills agreed to terms with Florence late Tuesday night. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.|||||||
The 28-year-old Florence will provide the secondary with some depth as he becomes the fifth cornerback on the team's roster. Buffalo will head into the 2009 season with Terrence McGee and 2008 first-round pick (11th overall) Leodis McKelvin as the starters, with Florence in the mix to occupy the nickel role. Florence was cut by Jacksonville last month after signing a lucrative six-year, $36 million deal - with about $12 million guaranteed - with the Jaguars in 2008.