CHARLOTTE (AP) -- Running back Natrone Means, a Charlotte-area high school star who played college ball at North Carolina, has agreed to contract terms with the Carolina Panthers, his agent confirmed Monday. The free agent has finalized terms on a one-year contract that would give him $450,000 in base salary, a $50,000 signing bonus and up to $2 million in incentives, said Brantley Evans, Means' agent. "And these incentives are reachable," Evans said. "He has a real opportunity to make a substantial amount of money." Means, who would be a backup to Tshimanga Biakabutuka, will sign the contract Tuesday morning, Evans said. A Panthers spokesman could not confirm Monday that a deal had been reached. At 5-foot-10 and 245 pounds, the 28-year-old Means would give the Panthers a power back, although the eight-year veteran has been plagued by injuries during the past two years, missing 15 of his past 22 games. He gained 277 yards last year before injuries ended his season. His best season was 1994, when he rushed for 1,350 yards and 12 touchdowns while leading the Chargers to the Super Bowl. Means, a Harrisburg native who played at Central Cabarrus High School, is No. 6 on the all-time rushing list at UNC with 3,074 yards and 34 touchdowns. Evans said Means was happy to be playing near his home. "Not many players get to grow up playing little league football, going to college and playing professionally all in the same area," Means said. Means' arrival could signal the end of Fred Lane's tenure with the Panthers. Lane, Biakabutuka's backup last season, was arrested on drug and weapons charges in February in Tennessee and was named in a domestic complaint filed by his wife in March. Means would help relieve the Panthers' concerns about Biakabutuka's durability. Injuries have cost Biakabutuka playing time in each of his four NFL seasons. Means was limited by ankle and knee injuries while playing for San Diego last year and had surgery during the off-season. The Panthers said team doctors have examined Means and believe he can be healthy by the start of the season. He underwent surgery on his right knee and both ankles and is going through rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the Panthers on Monday announced the signing of 26 free agents not taken during the NFL draft over the weekend. Among those agreeing to terms were Wake Forest running back Morgan Kane, Duke wide receiver Scottie Montgomery and North Carolina guards Bryan Jones and Allen Mogridge.
Pro Career: One of NFL's talented big backs, Means combines punishing size and stunning agility. San Diego welcomed return of one of NFL's premier running backs when Means was signed to six-year contract as unrestricted free agent on March 4, 1998. Teammates honored his effort and contributions in 1998 by naming him San Diego's Offensive Player of the Year. Natrone heads into 1999 season needing 62 rushing yards to reach 5,000-yard plateau. With 5,518 combined career yards (4,938 rushing, 580 receiving), needs 482 total yards in 1999 to reach 6,000-yard mark. Mean's totals with Chargers from 1993-95 and '98 include 35 of 52 regular-season games played, 3,608 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns on 901 carries while catching 72 passes for 431 yards. His 3,608 rushing yards ranks third in team history behind Paul Lowe (4,963), and Marion Butts (4,297). Needs 1,335 yards to pass Lowe and 690 to pass Butts in 1999. Ranks fourth in team history with 30 rushing touchdowns and needs two to pass Butts (31) for third spot. Has 10 career 100-yard games, including 16 in regular season action and three in playoffs. 16 of his 100-yard games, including 15 in regular season and one in playoffs, have come with San Diego. During regular season, Chargers are 16-8 when Means has rushed for touchdown and 10-5 when he rushes for 100 or more yards. Originally entered NFL as San Diego's second-round pick and spent first three NFL seasons (1993-95) with Chargers. Prior to re-signing with Chargers in 1998, Means spent two seasons (1996-97) in Jacksonville. Career numbers include 50 starts of 80 regular-season games played. Regular-season totals include 1,297 carries, 4,938 yards, 3.8 average, 41 rushing touchdowns and 94 receptions for 580 receiving yards, 6.2 average per reception and one touchdown. Also has started seven of eight postseason games, including Super Bowl XXIX for San Diego. Has rushed for 650 yards and five touchdowns on 144 carries (4.4 avg.) while catching 12 passes for 84 yards in playoff action. In six-year NFL career, has been to playoffs four times. Originally joined Chargers as team's second-round selection and 41st player chosen overall in 1993 NFL Draft.
1998: Started 10 of 10 regular-season games played for Chargers. Despite missing six games due to injury, Means' teammates voted him Rodney Culver Memorial Award as Offensive Player of Year. Led team with 212 carries for 883 yards (4.2 avg.). Also had personal and team-long 72-yard touchdown run. Added 16 receptions for 91 yards. Tied for team lead with five rushing touchdowns. Rushed for 100 yards or more in four games. Set career-high with 165 yards on 22 carries, including career-long 72-yard touchdown run at Kansas City, September 20. Amassed 130 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries at Indianapolis, October 4. Set career-high with 37 carries for 101 yards rushing while also setting personal-best with 66 receiving yards on six catches at Oakland, October 11.
1997: Started 11 of 14 regular-season games and one postseason contest for Jaguars in 1997...finished season as team leader with 244 carries for 823 yards (3.4 avg.), long of 20 yards and nine touchdowns...823 yards rushing ranked 13th in AFC, while nine rushing touchdowns ranked sixth in AFC and tied team single-season record...also caught 15 passes for 104 yards, (6.9 avg.) and long of 21.
1996: Got off to a slow start after suffering a thumb injury in the final preseason game, but led team in rushing each of last five weeks of the regular season after starting the final four games...Played behind James Stewart the first 11 games of the season...Finished second on team with 507 yards rushing on 152 carries (3.3-yard average) and two touchdowns.
1995: Means played in only 10 games, starting nine times, because of a groin injury. Carried the ball only five times for 12 yards in the final eight games of the season, but still led the team in rushing with 730 yards. Also scored five touchdowns (to lead team's rushers) on his 186 carries, and his 3.9-yard average also led the team. Rushed for more than 100 yards in three consecutive games (25-115 on September 10 vs. Seattle, 23-122 on September 17 at Philadelphia, and 27-115 on September 24 vs. Denver) and had three games with 90-plus yards.
1994: Took over the starting job and finished second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL in rushing with 1,350 yards, a team single-season record...Scored 12 touchdowns, which was the most by a Chargers back since Chuck Muncie ran for 19 in 1981...Started all 16 games during the regular season and all three in the postseason, including Super Bowl XXIX.
1993: Played in all 16 games as a rookie and finished season second on the team with 645 rushing yards on 160 carries...Led team with 8 rushing touchdowns.
College Highlights: Ran for more than 1,000 yards as both a sophomore and junior and ranked second on school's all-time list with 34 touchdowns...Rushed 605 times for 3,074 yards (5.1 average) to tie for fifth in school history with Ethan Horton despite leaving college one year early...Also caught 61 passes for 500 yards.
Career Notes: Selected after junior season by San Diego Chargers in second round (41st pick overall) of 1993 NFL draft. ... Signed by Chargers (July 19, 1993). ... Claimed on waivers by Jacksonville Jaguars (March 11, 1996). ... Granted unconditional free agency (February 13, 1998). ... Signed by Chargers (March 4, 1998).
Championship Game Experience: Played in AFC championship game (1994 and 1996 seasons). ... Played in Super Bowl XXIX (1994 season).
Single-Game Highs: Attempts: 27 (December 22, 1996, vs. Atlanta); yards: 125 (October 9, 1994, vs. Kansas City); and rushing touchdowns: 3 (October 16, 1994, vs. New Orleans).
Statistical Plateaus: 100-yard rushing games: 1993 (2), 1994 (6), 1995 (3), 1996 (1). Total: 12.
Contract Status: Signed a 6-year, $19.1 million contract with the Chargers in March of 1998.
1999 Outlook: Hoping to recapture his dominating form of 3 seasons ago - does he have the offensive line to do it?
Personal: Born Natrone Jermaine Means April 26, 1972, in Harrisurg, North Carolina. Named conference and county player of year in high school senior season for Central Cabarrus High Vikings in Concord, North Carolina. Parade All-America selection. Rushed for 3,583 yards and 55 touchdowns in final two years. Rushed for 2,023 yards and 33 touchdowns in senior season alone. Lettered as tailback, linebacker and cornerback. Two-time letterman in basketball.. Speech communications major at North Carolina. Hosted third annual Natrone Means football camp in Charlotte, North Carolina in June with Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Mo Collins. One day camp at Revolution Park for 300 high school students from Central Cabarrus High School and West Charlotte High School. Coaches from other high schools are allowed to invite 10 students to attend camp. Hosted camp at Central Cabarrus first two years. Has two daughters, oldest is Taylor (Sept. 12, 1996). Reside in San Diego until recently. |
