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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Defensive end Greg Hardy has signed his franchise tag tender with the Carolina Panthers, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been made official. Hardy, who said in January hed have no issue if the team used the franchise tag to keep him, will make $13.1 million for one season if he doesnt sign a long-term extension. The Panthers have until July 15 to sign Hardy to a long-term deal. After that date they cant discuss a contract extension until after the season is over. When the Panthers used the franchise tag on Hardy Friday, general manager Dave Gettleman said in a press release it was done so to buy more time to potentially work out a long-term extension with the former Mississippi star. "The franchise mechanism gives us time to secure the services of a very good player while we continue to look at the future of Greg with the Carolina Panthers," Gettleman said. "We have had great dialogue with both Greg and his agent. It was important to keep our defensive front together." The four-year NFL veteran had 15 sacks last season, tying a franchise record previously established by Kevin Greene in 1996, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Hardy has 26 sacks in his last two seasons. Hardy led the Panthers with 38 quarterback pressures last season and posted a career-high 67 tackles for the NFC South champions. The Panthers led the league in sacks last season with 60. Gettleman said Hardy was "a big reason we were able to lead the league in sacks last year and keeps our defensive line intact." Jake Odorizzi Jersey . 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Eduardo Escobar Jersey . "Its way better than running gassers, thats for sure," the inside linebacker said Monday, when the Chargers started their third and final week of organized team activities, which are practices in shorts, jerseys and helmets.PHILADELPHIA -- Rain gave a pair of depleted bullpens a little boost. Tuesday nights game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed by inclement weather, allowing both managers to rest their weary closers an extra day. A makeup date wasnt announced. Its expected the game will be played when the Braves return to Philadelphia on June 27-29. David Hale, the Braves scheduled starter, will be skipped. Julio Teheran (1-1) faces Phillies ace Cliff Lee (2-1) on Wednesday night. Alex Wood (2-1) goes against A.J. Burnett (0-1) in the series finale Thursday afternoon. Hale will be available in the bullpen the next two games and is scheduled to start Sunday. "This lets us recharge that bullpen a little bit," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Gonzalez wouldnt say whether closer Craig Kimbrel would have been available Tuesday. Kimbrel, who experienced shoulder discomfort after recording his fifth save on Saturday, is day to day and David Carpenter got the save in Atlantas 9-6 comeback win Monday night. "Kimbrel played catch today. Nothing major," Gonzalez said. "Hopefully tomorrow he wakes up a little better, progresses." The Phillies wasted a five-run rally in the eighth inning of the series opener when Jaake Diekman allowed a grand slam to Dan Uggla in the ninth inning.dddddddddddd Diekman was trying for his first career save filling in for Jonathan Papelbon, who pitched the three previous games. Papelbon is ready to go and the overused bullpen could benefit from the night off. Philadelphias relievers have the third-highest ERA in the majors at 5.53. It hasnt helped that starters have pitched more than six innings just twice in 13 games. "The game starts with pitching and defence," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I think overall our pitchers have to establish the strike zone and work ahead in the counts. I think that is a big part in why were playing the slowest games and longest games in baseball. Every time I look at the clock and leave, its almost midnight. I cant believe it, but it is what it is." The Phillies are averaging 3 hours, 17 minutes for their games. Only two other teams are longer. "Our pitchers are throwing a lot of pitches, so on the starting-pitching side of things theyve been limited on the time that they can be out there," Sandberg said. "And then weve had to use our bullpen and then with some of our bullpen guys it has been the same thing with the amount of pitches coming out of the pen." 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