Panthers to hold line on prices

By: JournalNow Staff | The Associated Press
Published: February 08, 2012

Carolina Panthers officials said they have told permanent seat-license owners that they will not raise season-ticket prices for the 2012 season.

There was a spike in interest in the team because of quarterback Cam Newton, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft who went on to become The Associated Press offensive rookie of the year. The Panthers finished 6-10, and games were closer and more competitive than they were during a 2-14 finish in 2010.

Television ratings were up in North Carolina and South Carolina, with the team experiencing a 25 percent increase in viewership and average weekly viewership at about two million people. The Panthers have sold out 93 consecutive home games.

Williams retires again

Running back Ricky Williams of the Baltimore Ravens said Tuesday that he is retiring from football. Williams, 34, has a year left on his contract, but he told the team he does not intend to play next season.

Williams won the Heisman Trophy at Texas, broke into the NFL in 1999 with the New Orleans Saints and had five 1,000-yard rushing seasons over 11 years. He ran for 444 yards and scored two touchdowns this past season as a backup to Ray Rice, and he became the 26th player in NFL history with 10,000 rushing yards, reaching the plateau in the season finale at Cincinnati.

Williams retired previously before the 2004 season when he was facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy. He returned in 2005.

Elsewhere

GIANTS: Tight end Jake Ballard tore his left anterior-cruciate ligament during the second half of Super Bowl, the team announced Tuesday.

An MRI discovered Ballard's injury, and with the help of crutches, he was able to participate in Tuesday's parade and ceremonies in New York and New Jersey.

Ballard, an undrafted free agent, caught 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns this regular season. In the four playoff games, he had five catches for 43 yards.

He had two receptions in the Giants' 21-17 win against New England on Sunday.

BILLS: Buffalo has re-signed kicker Rian Lindell and hired former Bills star Pete Metzelaars as tight ends coach. Lindell will return for a 10th season in Buffalo. He is the team's No. 2 career scorer with 878 points.

Metzelaars spent the past eight seasons as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts and spent 10 of his 16 seasons as a player with the Bills.