8 p.m. The Washington Redskins offered free agent wide receiver D.J. Hackett a contract on Thursday, but he wouldn't commit to anything, telling coach Jim Zorn that he also wanted to visit with Tampa Bay and Carolina. It's also possible he could re-sign with Seattle.

   He was on his way to Tampa Bay on Thursday and will spend the night there and meet more with the Bucs on Friday before arriving in Charlotte late Friday night. He'll meet with the Panthers then and again on Saturday before making a final decision.

   The fact that Hackett hasn't accepted an offer is obviously a good sign for the Panthers.

    7:50 p.m. Detroit released defensive end Kalimba Edwards and running back Kevin Jones on Thursday. Obviously they are two positions of need for the Panthers. I spoke with Edwards' agent, but so far there has been no contact from the Panthers. Haven't spoken with Jones' agent yet.

   2 p.m. While the decision to bring in free agent wide receiver D.J. Hackett (he will visit on Friday) broke one day after the arrest of Dwayne Jarrett on DWI charges, it should not be construed as the team looking for his replacement. In other words, the Panthers aren't about to cut Jarrett, a second-round pick in 2007, if they sign Hackett.

    The fact is when you're drafted in the second round, your leash is always a longer than most.

   But I still believe the decision to take a look at Hackett was, at least in part, to send a message to Jarrett to get his act together -- and to do it now. And one source close to the situation has confirmed that. The bottom line here is Jarrett isn't going anywhere, but clearly the team is irritated with his stupid decision to get behind the wheel of a car at 3 a.m. in the morning when he was (allegedly) smashed. He had better have a good training camp of that impatience is going to continue to grow.