CHARLOTTE - When the Atlanta Falcons released defensive tackle Paul Soliai last week, the first team to reach out was one of the Falcons' foes.
Soliai and the Panthers became fast friends.
"The first team that approached me was Carolina. I've never really had much of a chance to play in the playoffs, so I decided to come here and give it a try," said Soliai, who signed a two-year contract Tuesday. "I saw the way they played last year, the chemistry, having fun out there and the bond they had while flying to the football and making plays.