Panthers Pick Up Greg Lloyd

Linebacker Greg Lloyd, a five-time Pro Bowler released last week by the Pittsburgh Steelers, reportedly has agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.

ESPN is reporting Lloyd has agreed to a $500,000 deal that will reunite him with former teammate Kevin Greene and former coach Dom Capers. Greene, also a linebacker, played for the Steelers from 1993 to 1995 while Capers was the defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh before becoming head coach of the Panthers.

Panthers officials were not immediately available for comment.

Lloyd spent his entire nine-year career with the Steelers, but has been unable to regain his Pro Bowl form after undergoing surgery in 1996 to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee.

Lloyd had just 3 ½ sacks in 12 games last season, missing the final four regular season games and two playoff games with a staph infection in his knee. His release also relieved the Steelers of a $3.17 million salary.

Among the most dominant linebackers this decade, Lloyd terrorized opponents in 1995 as Pittsburgh reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 1979. He is a two-time team MVP and and his 53 1/2 career sacks are fourth in Steelers history and the most by a linebacker.

The 6-2, 228-pound Lloyd was a sixth-round draft choice out of Fort Valley State in 1987. He missed his entire rookie season following reconstructive knee surgery and further knee injuries limited him to just nine games in 1988. But by 1989 he was a full-time starter and led the team with seven sacks.

Lloyd made the Pro Bowl every season between 1991-95. Only Andy Russell and Hall of Famers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert have played in more Pro Bowls for the Steelers.

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