Reports of a deal with defensive tackle Milton Williams were greatly exaggerated, at least according to Carolina Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis.
The legal tampering period, or the unofficial start of free agency, seemed to begin with a bang for the Panthers—who were quickly connected to the coveted 25-year-old defender. Multiple reporters indicated that Carolina and Williams were finalizing an agreement back on the afternoon of Monday, March 10.
But that wasn't the case.
Williams, rather, ended up striking a deal with the New England Patriots shortly after those early reports.