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No surprise Panthers have spent bulk of free agency shoring up defense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Quarterback Cam Newton may be the face of the Carolina Panthers, but the foundation of this NFL team remains its defense.

That was made clear during the first two days of free agency.

Carolina spent the bulk of its salary-cap space on re-signing defensive end Julius Peppers and signing defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Bashaud Breeland.

Peppers, 38, got a one-year, $5 million deal that should be his last before retirement. Poe got a three-year, $27 million deal to replace free-agent loss Star Lotulelei (Buffalo) as the space-eater beside Kawann Short.