We're told that Seattle free agent wide receiver D.J. Hackett has made it to Charlotte. Now the question is whether the Panthers can convince him to play for them.

Hackett flew to town earlier today after visiting Washington and Tampa Bay on consecutive days. His stay here is supposed to last into Saturday.

Then he'll decide whether to stay with the Seahawks or pick one of the other three teams.

The Panthers sure could use more depth at wide receiver to compete with Muhsin Muhammad, Dwayne Jarrett, Travis Taylor and Ryne Robinson for playing time next to Steve Smith.

Seahawks fans and Hackett's fantasy football owners can tell you how productive he was last season when healthy. The problem is he had ankle problems and missed 10 games.

Still, he's by far the best wide receiver left on the market and he's got big-time potential.

-- Recently released Panthers center Justin Hartwig visited the Steelers today. The Rams might also be interested.

-- There's still no word on whether the Patriots are going to sign Carolina restricted free agent linebacker Adam Seward to an offer sheet.

-- Good move by the 49ers deciding not to give Jerry Rice's No. 80 jersey number to recent signee Isaac Bruce. Even though Bruce had many outstanding years with the Rams wearing 80, no one should wear it for San Francisco again now that Rice, the NFL's all-time leading receiver, has retired.

-- Shifting sports, if the Yankees had invited Stan to try out rather than Billy Crystal, there's no way he would've struck out.

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