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Although roster-related activity has slowed greatly over the last week, we have had a few moves of interest in recent days; certainly enough to merit a quick roundup. So let's get busy, eh?

We'll start in Carolina, where David Carr agreed to a two-year deal to play for the Panthers on Friday.

According to NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, the deal is worth just over $6 million and includes a $3 million signing bonus.

Carr, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, will serve as Jake Delhomme's backup.

"It's a case where we were obviously looking for someone to come in back up Jake and the opportunity to get a quarterback the caliber of David in free agency is unique," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "We thought it was a good situation and a good opportunity for us."

Or as Charlotte Observer staffer Pat Yasinskas, who first reported the story this morning, put it: "The Panthers obviously don't view Carr as the typical backup."

Sources told Yasinskas the Panthers view Carr as a player who still has plenty of upside and could flourish with the right team and the right offensive system.

Of course, head coach John Fox has said several times that Delhomme, who struggled at times last season, remains the starter. But Carr could provide a viable alternative if Delhomme struggles again.

That's something the Panthers lacked last season when Delhomme was forced to miss three games with a thumb injury. Backup Chris Weinke was elevated to the starting lineup, but the Panthers lost his first two starts and let him attempt only seven passes in his final start.

Weinke was released after the season. The Panthers will go to training camp with second-year pro Brett Basanez as the third quarterback behind Delhomme and Carr.

Carr was a five-year starter for the expansion Texans. He completed 60 percent of his passes, but threw 65 interceptions and was sacked 249 times. For his career, Carr has completed 60 percent of his passes with a 75.5 quarterback rating.

While completing 1,243 of 2,070 passes, Carr has thrown for 59 touchdowns with 65 interceptions.

Carr did show some progress last season -- Gary Kubiak's first as Texans head coach, completing a career-best 68.3 of his passes and posting an 82.1 quarterback rating, but was released last month after Houston obtained Matt Schaub in a trade from Atlanta and anointed him as their starting quarterback.

It's worth noting that, between bonuses and base salaries, the Texans paid Carr more than $35 million in five seasons. When they acquired Schaub, they initially hoped to be able to trade Carr, but cut him free rather than prolonging his time with the franchise and the misery it brought on both sides.

According to Associated Press sports writer Mike Cranston, the Panthers believe Carr's troubles stemmed from Houston's poor offensive line, and tried to sign him during his visit with the team early in the week.

Carr left without a contract and visited Seattle, while Carolina brought in former Miami quarterback Joey Harrington for a visit.

Although there was talk he could land with teams such as Oakland, Detroit or Cleveland where there might have been a better shot at winning a starting job, Carr wanted to land in a situation that presented the best chance of resurrecting his career over the long haul.

And he thought Carolina offered that.

So on Thursday Carr contacted Panthers officials and the two sides reached a deal over the phone early Friday morning, ending a nervous period for Hurney.

"He met everybody and met Jake and I think he felt comfortable," Hurney said. "You never know what happens when he leaves without a contract. But we felt good about him I think he felt good about us and he made the decision to come here."

Hurney also stressed Carr's arrival isn't the beginning of a quarterback controversy.

"We made it clear and he knows that Jake Delhomme is our starting quarterback," Hurney said. "I think it was important for him to come to a winning organization and a place where he thinks has a chance to win. He knows that Jake is our starter. Every player wants to play, but he knows the role he's coming into."

Carr's signing is the biggest move the Panthers have made so far in free agency. Hurney has said they were content with 21 of 22 starters returning next season. ...

In New Orleans. ... Olindo Mare was granted his wish of playing for a new team, as the Dolphins traded the veteran place-kicker to the Saints on Tuesday for a 2007 sixth-round draft pick (the 199th pick overall).

Mare, who began kicking for the Dolphins in 1997, became expendable last month when the franchise signed former New York Giants kicker Jay Feely as his replacement.

But as South Florida Sun-Sentinel staffer Alex Marvez noted, the Dolphins refused to immediately cut Mare even after he publicly asked for his release because the franchise was hoping to trade him.

Meanwhile, John Carney told New Orleans Times-Picayune staffer Mike Triplett he was shocked and disappointed by the Saints' decision to replace him after six years as their kicker.

Carney, a 17-year veteran, was granted his release Thursday, two days after Mare was acquired.

"Given our recent acquisition of Olindo, we wanted to give John every opportunity to sign with another team as soon as possible," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. "This is something we were sensitive to, because he has been an important part of the Saints and the community during his time in New Orleans.

"We will always have a lot of respect for John as a person and a player."

Carney seems to feel the same, telling Triplett he was not upset with the team and he is leaving New Orleans on good terms.

Carney, who turns 43 in two weeks, also denied reports that he plans to retire. He said he was excited about returning to New Orleans in 2007, and he still hopes to kick for another team this season.

"I understand the nature of the business, and I understand building the team for the long run," Carney said. "And it comes down to their philosophy of building a team where the pieces to the puzzle will be there for the next five to eight years."

Carney had the most accurate season of his career in 2006, making 25 of 27 field-goal attempts, including the playoffs. But he only attempted one field goal from 50 yards or more.

The Saints added stronger-legged kicker Billy Cundiff midway through the season as a kickoff and long-range field-goal specialist. Cundiff, however, missed his only two field-goal attempts, including a 47-yarder at Chicago in the NFC championship game.

Mare, who turns 34 in June, is expected to fill all of the Saints' needs. He has led the NFL in kickoff touchbacks over the past eight years, including a league-high 24 in 2006. ...

As for Carney? Well, the Giants currently have an opening. ...

In Dallas. ... As a restricted free agent, Patrick Crayton had until April 20 to find a suitor. But as Dallas Morning News staffer Todd Archer reports, the wideout elected to sign his one-year tender offer worth $1.3 million Thursday.

Crayton, who turns 28 on Saturday, set career highs in catches (36), yards (516) and touchdowns (four) last season, serving as the third receiver behind Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn.

The Cowboys elected to put the $1.3 million tender on Crayton, which would have required a team to hand over a second-round pick if the Cowboys chose not to match an offer.

Crayton played in all 16 games last season, his third with the Cowboys since being a seventh-round pick out of Northwestern Oklahoma State in 2004.

He had a career-high 36 catches for 516 yards and four touchdowns last season and returned 11 punts for 85 yards.

I expect Crayton to continue progressing in that No. 3 role this year despite the change in coaching staff. ...

In Green Bay. ... The Packers agreed to terms with Carlyle Holiday, the last of their four exclusive-rights free agents, earlier this week. Terms were not available.

Holiday had nine receptions for 126 yards in four games for the Packers last season after being claimed off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.

He is expected to compete for a reserve role this season. ...

In Kansas City. ... As first reported by Schefter, Lawrence Tynes re-signed with the Chiefs Wednesday.

Tynes appears to be Kansas City's kicker of the near-term despite a breakdown in the playoff loss to the Colts and a rather lackluster regular-season effort.

As the Sports Xchange recently suggested, Tynes has plenty of leg, but isn't reliable on middle-distance kicks. He went 4-for-6 form 30-39 yards and 7-for-10 from 40-49 last year. ...

In Atlanta. ... Tight end Dwayne Blakely re-signed with the Falcons Wednesday.

Blakely was a solid special teams contributor and saw spot duty at tight end in three games last season.

But his speed and athleticism might make him a better fit in Bobby Petrino's offense than blocking specialist Eric Beverly, who served as Alge Crumpler's top backup in recent seasons.

In Seattle. ... Leonard Weaver, an exclusive rights free-agent fullback, signed his tender offer with the Seahawks this week.

According to the Xchange, Weaver, who spent most of last season on injured reserve, has a chance to develop as the starter next season if he continues to improve on his blocking.

He already is viewed as a better ball handler than veteran starter Mack Strong. ...

In Houston. ... The Texans re-signed eight players Monday, including receiver David Anderson and tight end Ben Steele.

Anderson, a 5-9, 194-pounder, was a seventh-round pick last April. He left Colorado State as the team's all-time leading receiver with 200 receptions for 3,330 yards. He ranks third in school history with 20 touchdowns.

Steele, a four-year veteran first joined the Texans as a free agent last offseason. He missed last year with a fractured leg. Steele previously played for Green Bay under current Texans offensive coordinator Mike Sherman. ...

That's it for now, but more moves are expected in the next few days, certainly the next few weeks.

Among the names currently being bandied about: San Diego restricted free agent Michael Turner, who has visited Buffalo and Tennessee this week (both teams are said to be in talks with the Chargers regarding possible trades); Corey Dillon, who is expected to visit Tennessee soon; Chris Brown, who might be the Titans' fall-back option should Turner and Dillon fall through -- and whose agent claims the Packers are interested; and Kevan Barlow, who doesn't seem to be drawing much interest at all. ...

It's also worth noting the Browns are preparing to make a more concerted effort to land Kansas City's Trent Green. But for now, the veteran signal caller -- also said to be of interest to the Dolphins and Lions -- will continue to take part in the Chiefs' off-season program.

Green's status -- and that of some others -- might not be determined until very near or on April 28, when the NFL Draft cranks up. ...

In the meantime, you'll always find breaking items in the News & Views section of the site with more in-depth reviews of top stories available here in the Headline News section, where you'll also find the weekly Fantasy Notebook each Sunday during the offseason.