The Facts: The Panthers cut a kicker Wednesday but signed another, maintaining a backup to compete with Olindo Mare after the veteran's disappointing first season in Charlotte. The Panthers signed Medlock to a three-year contract at the league minimum, beginning with a $390,000 base salary this year, according to the NFLPA Web site.

Diehards Line:Medlock, 28, was a fifth-round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007 out of UCLA. He was the first kicker drafted that year, ahead of Nick Folk, now with the New York Jets, and Green Bay's Mason Crosby. Medlock made 1 of 2 field goals in the 2007 opener before the Chiefs released him. He spent most of the last three years in the Canadian Football League. The Panthers signed Medlock in favor of Adi Kunalic, who had two stints with the team last year but did not kick in a regular-season game. Kunalic was with the Panthers in training camp, and re-signed in December after Mare missed a pair of short, fourth-quarter field goals. The Panthers signed Mare to a four-year, $12 million contract last summer after the lockout and released John Kasay. Mare was second in the league with 53 touchbacks. But his .786 field goal percentage was tied for 24th among 31 kickers with at least 19 attempts.