Unable to find a team willing to trade for Justin Hartwig, the Carolina Panthers released their starting center Tuesday to continue a major overhaul of their offensive line.

The move makes Ryan Kalil, a second-round pick in last year's draft, the new center. Hartwig is the second starting lineman to get cut, following former left guard Mike Wahle.

The Panthers didn't save salary-cap room. The move cost the Panthers an extra $750,000 against their cap.

Hartwig was to count $3.75 million if he was on the team, but now he'll count $4.5 million because of bonus prorations on the three years left on his contract.

Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said there was some interest in Hartwig, but that a trade couldn't be worked out.

After determining that Kalil would start at center next season, the Panthers originally planned for Hartwig to compete for the starting right guard spot. But Hartwig prefers center.

"This was more of a case of trying to do the right thing for the player at the right time," Hurney said.

MORE PANTHERS: Carolina hosted a visit Monday from Oakland restricted free agent Chris Carr, a kick returner and backup cornerback.

The Panthers have yet to sign Carr to an offer sheet. If they do, the Raiders will have the right to match. If the Raiders don't match, the Panthers won't owe the Raiders any compensation because he originally joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2004.

Carr has a three-year average of 24.1 yards on kickoff returns and 5.9 yards on punt returns. He played in the Raiders' nickel and dime defensive coverages and has one career interception that he returned for a touchdown.

(The Charlotte Observer)

RESTRAINING ORDER DROPPED: A woman who obtained a restraining order earlier this year in a domestic violence case against New England Patriots star Randy Moss wants the case dismissed, court records show.

Rachelle Washington, 35, filed papers March 3 with the Broward County Circuit Court clerk's office requesting that the order be dissolved and the case closed.

FITZGERALD RENEGOTIATES: Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald agreed to a new $40 million, four-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

It includes $30 million in guaranteed money. The Cardinals wanted to renegotiate Fitzgerald's incentive-laden rookie contract because he reached many of the benchmarks and was to receive $14.6 million in 2008 and just less than $17.4 million in 2009, leaving the Cardinals with little room under the salary cap to sign free agents.

GLEASON HANGS IT UP: Saints special teamer Steve Gleason has decided to retire. He was a favorite who cemented his place in Saints lore with a blocked punt during the Superdome's reopening following Hurricane Katrina.

CHIEFS GRAB DARLING: The Kansas City Chiefs signed free- agent wide receiver Devard Darling on Tuesday.

Darling, Baltimore's third-round pick in 2004, played in 30 games in four seasons for the Ravens, catching 20 passes for 331 yards with three touchdowns. Eighteen of those catches came in 2007.

MORE SIGNINGS: Safety and special-teams standout Keith Davis signed a two-year contract Tuesday with the Miami Dolphins after spending the past five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

* The Detroit Lions signed Chuck Darby to a three-year deal Tuesday, nearly a week after agreeing to terms with the defensive tackle.

* Running back Jesse Chatman became the fifth unrestricted free agent to sign with the New York Jets in the past two weeks. Terms of Chatman's contract weren't disclosed in a news release distributed by the team.

(The Associated Press)