CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers used the franchise tag on Greg Hardy on Friday, preventing the outspoken defensive end from hitting the free agent market. Hardy will make $12.45 million next season. The team also re-signed kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract. Financial terms of that deal were not released. Hardy, known by teammates as "The Kraken," tied a franchise single-season record with 15 sacks in 2013 and was selected second-team All-Pro by The Associated Press. SportsIllustrated.com ranked Hardy as this off-seasons top NFL free agent. Hardy led the Panthers with 38 quarterback pressures and posted a career-high 67 tackles last season. "We are very pleased that Greg will be back with the Panthers next season," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said in a release. "He was a big reason we were able to lead the league in sacks last year and keeps our defensive line intact." The Panthers have until July 15 to sign Hardy to a long-term contract extension. After that date they cant discuss a contract extension until after the season is over. "The franchise mechanism gives us time to secure the services of a very good player while we continue to look at the future of Greg with the Carolina Panthers," Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said in a release. "We have had great dialogue with both Greg and his agent. It was important to keep our defensive front together." Hardy and Charles Johnson are the only set of teammates to record 10 or more sacks in each of the last two seasons. They have combined for 49.5 sacks during that span, tied for most in the NFL. A former sixth-round draft pick out of Mississippi, Hardy made the league veteran minimum salary last year. Hardy said in January he would have no problem if the Panthers used the franchise tag on him after being selected to his first Pro Bowl. "I would love a franchise (tag), man," Hardy said prior to the playoffs. "Add another year on my career. Get to play football a little bit longer without a contract. Another year to be in Carolina just to get them a chance to get their fiscal responsibilities in order so we can be here forever, like Steve Smith and a lot of other guys." Hardy becomes the fifth player in Panthers history to receive the franchise tag, joining punter Todd Sauerbrun (2003), tackle Jordan Gross (2008), defensive end Julius Peppers (2009) and centre Ryan Kalil (2011). Gano helps solidify the teams kicking situation. The 26-year-old Gano is coming off a successful season, converting 24 of 27 field goal attempts while helping the team to a 12-4 record and the NFC South title. He set a franchise record and tied for the NFL lead with six made field goals from 50 yards or more. He was the only NFL kicker with three or more attempts from 50 yards or more without a miss from that distance. "Im really excited to be back in Carolina," Gano said. "It is where my family and I wanted to be. I love the organization and feel this is the best place for me." Rivera said: "The special teams unit was a large part of our success last year and we are excited to keep Graham as a part of our team. Graham has shown range and accuracy in his field goal kicking, and his strong leg has been a weapon for us on kickoffs." Of his 82 kickoffs, 76 reached the end zone, including 63 for touchbacks, the highest percentage in the NFL since 1994. A five-year NFL veteran, Gano spent his first three seasons with the Washington Redskins. He has converted 92 of 118 field goal attempts in his career. Gano feels like he has some stability on the team, which has helped his game. "When I was in Washington I went through four holders and that took some getting used to," Gano said. "I finally got comfortable there and made my last 14 of 17 field goals. Ive carried over that consistency to Carolina." Gano said he was celebrating the new deal by taking his son to Chic-fil-A. DeAnthony Thomas Chiefs Jersey. The average annual value of the deal is $4.833 million. "Justin has proven to be among the best young defensemen in the league as confirmed by his selection to the U. James-Michael Johnson Jersey. -- Kobe Bryant will make his long-awaited return from a torn left Achilles tendon when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night. http://www.chiefsjerseysfootballonline.com/authentic-frankie-hammond-chiefs-jersey/.5 billion. Each of the 209 member countries will get $250,000 this month and should get a further $500,000 early next year, FIFAs finance director Markus Kattner told the governing bodys congress Wednesday. Ben Grubbs Jersey.When Schultz does have a rare shot to score, the defenceman enjoys the chance to cash in.It must be nice to be a goal scorer, he said. Alex Smith Chiefs Jersey. Meanwhile, LeBron James played through back soreness, only to twist his ankle and see his two-time defending champion Miami Heat fall to a seventh loss in 11 games. Davis had 30 points, 11 rebounds and three steals — giving him a franchise record three straight 30-point, 10-rebound games — and the Pelicans pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 105-95 victory on Saturday night. INAWASHIRO, Japan -- Canadian moguls skier Mikael Kingsbury says he always sets his sights on a podium finish. And lately, hes been getting a lot of them. After winning bronze at a World Cup event on Saturday, the reigning Olympic silver medallist capped off his weekend in Japan with gold in dual moguls on Sunday. "Yesterday I wasnt disappointed, but I made an uncharacteristic mistake. Today I felt very good," Kingsbury said. "I really wanted to win and I focused on the stuff I was doing well. I didnt have my best training this morning so I had to refocus and managed to get the win." Kingsbury, of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., outperformed Japans Sho Endo in his final run. Montreals Pascal-Olivier Gagne took bronze for his first World Cup podium finish. The 24-year-old Gagne, who was ousted by Kingsbury in the semifinal, said that simply cracking the semis was a huge step for him, but winning bronze and sharing his first podium with Kingsbury and Sho was even better. "I was already assured of fourth place so it didnt even matter what happened after, I was just so happy to be there," he said. "I went to see Mik before the dual and took him in my arms because I knew it was my best result ever. "To share the podium with him, hes the most consistent skier Ive seen and Sho, hes one of the best right now, so to share the podium with both these guys really means a lot to me." Gagne got off to a slow start this season, making only one final in his first six events. While his Canadian teammates were winning medals in Sochi, Gagne had to go back to the NorAm circuit to earn a spot in this weekends World Cup event in Japan. He placed seventh in singles and second in dual moguls at Appex Mountain Resort outside of Penticton, B.ddddddddddddC. on Feb. 15 and 16, respectively. Gagne says winning his first World Cup medal on the tough Japanese course made his victory even sweeter. "To finally have my first podium ever, and to have it here in Inawashiro means a lot to me," he said. "Its one of the courses thats the most difficult in the world. Its the course I always looked up to when I was young watching my idols. Its really a fight every time to ski here so Im really happy I made my first podium here." Quebec Citys Philippe Marquis was fourth, Montreals Marc-Antoine Gagnon placed fifth after being knocked out in the quarter-finals by Kingsbury, and two-time Olympic gold medallist Alex Bilodeau of Rosemere, Que., was ninth. In dual moguls, two skiers race down a course against each other, with the top score awarded to the athlete who performs the best tricks in the quickest time. Kingsbury admitted that having to ski against a fellow Canadian isnt exactly ideal. "For sure I dont want to face them in duals because its not fun to have to go up against your teammate," he said. "But when were in the gate, its like theyre from another country. Im not going to ski differently because theyre my friend. We push even harder almost when we are going against our own teammates, but we had a lot of fun today." On the womens side, Hannah Kearney of the United States won gold, followed by Elena Muratova of Russia and Japans Junko Hoshino. Montreals Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, who won bronze in the womens singles event Saturday, placed fifth. Her sister and reigning Olympic gold medallist Justine Dufour-Lapointe, finished ninth after taking first place on Saturday. cheap nfl jerseys? cheap jerseys?cheap jerseys?cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '