Ron Rivera not worried that Kawann Short skipped OTAs

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera isn't concerned by the absence of Kawann Short from voluntary workouts, but Rivera isn't sure if the defensive tackle who is angling for a new contract will show up for mandatory minicamp next week.

"Because it's voluntary, he decided not to come," Rivera said Tuesday. "That's the only thing I can tell you. It's one of those things that he has to decide what he wants to do, and because it's voluntary, we're not too concerned about it. We'll coach who's here."

Rivera said Short, a Pro Bowler last season whose rookie contract expires after the 2016 season, has given no indication whether he will be at the Panthers' mandatory minicamp that runs June 14-16.

"He's under contract and he'll do the things that he's supposed to do, and the things that are voluntary, he'll just decide what he wants to do," Rivera said. "We'll live with that, and as I said, we'll coach the guys that are here."

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman has made it no secret that he wants to get a deal done with Short, who led the team with 11 sacks last season. The Panthers have about $30 million in cap space and could give the 2013 second-round pick out of Purdue somewhere around $15 million a year.

Short said last month that he isn't concerned about getting a deal done soon and is concentrating on improvement.

"If it happens, it happens, but we haven't focused on that," Short said on May 26. "I've still got a lot I need to do. I've put myself in the position, but at the same time, I'm not where I want to be. We're not rushing the issue."

In the meantime, first-round pick Vernon Butler has been getting the reps in Short's place, and the rookie from Louisiana Tech has impressed Rivera.

"You're seeing a young guy who's learning and growing," Rivera said of Butler. "He's doing some good things and making some mistakes, but you see his athletic ability, you see his explosiveness. It's good that he's getting opportunities right now."