Panthers sign punter Mike Scifres to 1-year deal

SAN DIEGO -- A little over a month after his release by the San Diego Chargers, punter Mike Scifres found a new home, signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Tuesday.

Scifres, 35, was selected in the fifth round of the 2003 draft by the Chargers out ofWestern Illinois, spending his first 13 seasons in the league in San Diego.

Scifres finished his career tied for fourth in team history with 195 games played. He also finished with the most career punt yards in team history with 33,797.

However, Scifres had a down year in 2015. His net punting average of 38.0 yards was No. 28 in the league, and Scifres averaged just 23 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line in 2015.

The Chargers draftedTexas A&Mpunter Drew Kaser in the sixth round of this year's draft, which allowed them to move on from Scifres, who was scheduled to make a little over $3.5 million in base salary in the final year of his contract.

"What I did for 13 years in San Diego I still feel that I'm capable of doing here," Scifres said. "I still feel I can play. Going into the draft, I knew there was a possibility I would end up getting released by San Diego. This is a new chapter, and it's about the player I can be for this team."

The Panthers waived punter Michael Palardy to make room for Scifres on the 90-man roster. Scifres gives Carolina a proven performer to compete with former CFL product Swayze Waters to replace Brad Nortman, the only punter Carolina has drafted in franchise history.

Nortman, a sixth-round selection in 2012, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.