CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers filled arguably the biggest hole on their roster Monday by acquiring three-time Pro Bowl punter Andy Lee in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.The Panthers gave up a 2018 fourth-round pick and punter Kasey Redfern in exchange for Lee and a 2017 seventh-round pick.The defending NFC champions had hoped veteran Mike Scifres would fill the void left by Brad Nortman, who signed with Jacksonville in free agency. However, Scifres, the former Chargers punter, injured his kicking (right) knee in Fridays preseason game when a New England player ran into him on his first punt of the preseason.The Panthers had been trying to hold Scifres out as he rehabbed offseason surgery on his left knee.The Browns traded Lee three days after coach Hue Jackson jumped the 13-year veteran on the sideline for a lack of effort on trying to stop a return that went 73 yards for a touchdown.[It was] his pursuit. Lets be very honest, Jackson said after the game. Were out there to play. If theres another guy that has the ball, your job is to go get it. The second time [on a long return] he did that, so that was improvement.Thats something to build on. The first time he understood in his conversation with me thats not how we pursue it, and he made amends for that. So on we go.On Monday, the Browns moved on from Lee. And the Panthers found a huge missing piece to a puzzle they hope will result in a second straight trip to the Super Bowl.Lee ranks sixth in the NFL all time in gross punting average (46.2 yards), eighth all time in net average (39.5) and ninth all time for punts inside the 20 (325).He set Browns single-season records with a 46.7-yard gross average and 40.1-yard net average in 2015.In 2011, Lee recorded the NFLs second-best single-season net punting average (44.0). In 2007, he had 42 punts inside the 20, tied for third-best season in NFL history.Lee also has ties to the Carolinas, growing up in Westminster, South Carolina, before playing collegiately at Pittsburgh.Lees current contract runs through 2018. He has a salary cap figure of $2,833,000 in 2016, $3,433,000 in 2017 and $4,134,000 in 2018.One of the reasons the Panthers didnt keep Nortman was they didnt want to compete with the four-year, $8.8 million deal he received from Jacksonville. That deal has a cap number of $2.15 million in 2016.Carolina also wanted to become more efficient at directional punting. Nortman sometimes outkicked the coverage.The Panthers did not indicate what would happen to Scifres, who attended Mondays practice but did not work out. An injury settlement is a possibility with four more moves needed to reduce the roster to 75 by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Brett Favre Packers Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Brett Favre Youth Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Brett-Favre-Packers-Jersey/ . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Paul Hornung Packers Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. Paul Hornung Womens Jersey . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA will begin distributing some revenue to member schools for the academic achievement of their athletes, starting in 2019-20.The NCAA announced Thursday that the Division I board of directors and NCAA board of governors approved the change to the revenue distribution model. The money will come from the NCAAs multimedia rights deal for the mens basketball tournament.The NCAA agreed to an eight-year extension of its deal with CBS and Turner eaarlier this year.ddddddddddddThe contract now runs through 2032 and pays the NCAA about $1.1 billion per year, an increase of about $330 million annually. The NCAA says for the first six years of the new distribution, 75 percent of the increase in rights fees will be used to pay schools based on the academic performance of their teams. ' ' '
