NFL Wire Notes | Panthers release Morgan, Wahle

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers ran out of patience with injury-prone linebacker Dan Morgan.

The Panthers released their former first-round pick Monday after seven seasons. Morgan, 29, could be dominant when he played, but was on the field for a mere 59 of 112 games.

Carolina also released Mike Wahle, 30, who started 16 games at left guard last season. The moves were the first of what are expected to be many by the Panthers after consecutive nonwinning seasons.

Morgan, the 11th player taken in the 2001 draft, wowed coaches and fans with a combination of hard hits and speed. He had 25 tackles in Carolina's loss to New England in the Super Bowl four years ago.

Morgan couldn't stay healthy. He never played all 16 games in a regular season because of numerous injuries, including at least five concussions.

He missed all but one game of the 2006 season after having two concussions in a month.

The Panthers brought him back for 2007 only after he agreed to restructure his contract so his bonus money was based on the number of games he played.

Morgan partially tore his right Achilles tendon, had surgery and missed the final 13 games. Rookie Jon Beason from Miami moved to Morgan's middle-linebacker spot and thrived, leading the team in tackles with 140.

Morgan's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client needs a change of scenery.

"Dan will definitely be playing football in 2008," Rosenhaus said. "He's way ahead of schedule on his recovery."

Cutting Morgan and Wahle clears an estimated $6 million in salary-cap space for the Panthers.

Notes

• In the Miami Dolphins' first major player purge since Bill Parcells took charge of football operations, the team parted ways with quarterback Trent Green, wide receiver Marty Booker, tackle Joe Toledo and six other players. Toledo is a former Washington Husky.

There is a chance Green — who was due a $500,000 roster bonus if he wasn't cut and who would have cost the Dolphins more than $3.6 million against their 2008 salary cap — could see his Miami tenure continue.

His agent, Jim Steiner, told The Palm Beach Post that Green, 37, and Parcells plan to meet soon.

• Jim Zorn, newly hired Washington coach, added John Palermo to coach the defensive line and Chris Meidt as an offensive assistant. Zorn is a former Seahawks quarterback and quarterbacks coach.

Palermo spent last season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tennessee Tech. Meidt coached Division III St. Olaf College in Minnesota for six seasons.

• Ex-NFL defensive back Adrian White, 43, was hired by the Buffalo Bills as a defensive-quality coach.

White, who worked with the Bills' staff during training camp in 2006 and 2007, will be entering his first full season as an assistant in the league. He was an assistant coach in NFL Europa for seven years.

• The Pittsburgh Steelers gave in to players' wishes and will keep their grass field, though it might not be the surface that is currently in place.

Although the Heinz Field surface is regularly rated by players as one of the league's worst, a large number of Steelers lobbied the team to keep the grass because they are convinced it reduces injuries.