Football <\/p>\n
CHARLOTTE \u2014 The Panthers are moving to a new defensive system this year, but they’re bringing an important piece of last year’s back with them.<\/p>\n
The Panthers agreed to terms on a reworked contract with veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson<\/a> Saturday.<\/p>\n That move will keep him here for the transition to the 3-4 that new coordinator Ejiro Evero is bringing, and Evero specifically mentioned Thompson as a player he’d want to coach during his introductory press conference in February<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Those are all questions that are above my pay grade, but if you talk about the player, that’s definitely a player I really admire, and I think he’s a heck of a player,” Evero said when asked about Thompson’s future and fit in this scheme. “Definitely would love to coach him.<\/p>\n “(He fits) very well. He’s an inside backer, a three-down player. He’s a guy that can play the run game. He’s good in zone coverage, can see the quarterback, can match running backs; he fits just right.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The 28-year-old Thompson was their first-round pick in 2015, joining a linebacker group with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, and has remained productive throughout his career.<\/p>\n He’s fourth on the team’s all-time tackle list (according to press box stats), trailing only Kuechly, Davis, and Mike Minter.<\/p>\n He’s topped 100 tackles each of the last four seasons, joining Kuechly, Davis, Minter, and Jon Beason on the list of players to accomplish that feat.<\/p>\n Last year, he set career highs in total tackles (135), becoming one of just eight players in the league to go over 100 tackles each of the last four seasons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n