Panthers Cuts: K Olindo Mare, P Nick Harris waived

The Carolina Panthers made their first round of cuts and settled the kicker and punter position battles. K Olindo Mare and P Nick Harris, who combined for more than 400 NFL games, were cut.

By Shawn Krest

Aug 27, 2012 at 3:54 pm ET • 1 min read

As promised, Panthers coach Ron Rivera made his decision in the kicker and punter competitions after the team’s third preseason game.

K Olindo Mare and P Nick Harris, who have combined for more than 400 NFL games, were cut. The team kept K Justin Medlock, signed from the Canadian Football League, and draft pick Brad Nortman.

Notable cuts: Mare (16th year, Syracuse) -- He was only with the Panthers for one season, and he missed a potential game-tying 31-yard FG near the end of the Minnesota game in Week 8. Mare had the edge over Medlock in kickoff distance, but Medlock’s youth and accuracy were the difference. Harris (12th year, California) -- Harris was signed in the offseason to compete for the punting job, but Nortman, a sixth-round draft pick, had the edge over him in camp. DE Eric Norwood (3rd year, South Carolina) -- He was drafted in the fourth round in 2010 by previous coach John Fox and didn’t produce much in two years on the Panthers roster. He’ll be replaced by Rivera’s fourth-round pick this year, Frank Alexander.

Complete cut list

WR Darvin Adams (2nd year, undrafted free agent, Auburn); G Roger Allen (3rd year, free agent, Missouri Western State); WR Michael Avila (rookie, undrafted free agent, San Jose State); WR Brenton Bersin (rookie, undrafted free agent, Wofford); G Will Blackwell (rookie, undrafted free agent, LSU); P Nick Harris (12th year, free agent, California); K Olindo Mare (16th year, free agent, Syracuse) DE Eric Norwood (3rd year, fourth round of 2010 draft, South Carolina); RB Lyndon Rowells (rookie, undrafted free agent, Humbolt State), TE Greg Smith (first-year, undrafted free agent, Texas), RB Josh Vaughan (3rd year, undrafted free agent, Richmond). Also, the Panthers reached an injury settlement with WR Rico Wallace (rookie, undrafted free agent, Shenandoah), placed WR David Gettis (3rd year, fourth round of 2009 draft, Baylor) on PUP, placed CB Brandon Hogan (second year, fourth round of 2011 draft, West Virginia) on injured reserve.