The Facts: The Panthers expect to use the fifth-year option to lock up Newton through 2015 and give the team time to negotiate a long-term deal. "Yes," GM Dave Gettleman said Tuesday at the NFL owners meeting. "Yes, that's a fair statement."

Diehards Line: As ESPN.com's David Newton notes, Carolina has until May 3 to inform Cam Newton and his representation it will use the fifth-year option that was built into the new collective bargaining agreement. The team likely will wait until the last minute because once the option goes into effect, the fifth-year salary becomes guaranteed for injury. Newton recently said it is his goal to be with the Panthers long term and he had no plans to hold out to force the team into a long-term deal. The fifth-year option buys Carolina, which currently is strapped under the salary cap, time to get that new deal done without risk of Newton becoming a free agent after next season. ... Meanwhile, Newton had surgery on his left ankle last Wednesday and is expected to miss four months of offseason work. Gettleman reaffirmed Tuesday that the surgery went well and there are no concerns with Newton physically.