*Panthers sign G Nate Newton, release G Corbin Lacina*
------------------------------------------------------ 

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Carolina Panthers

today helped one of the NFL's worst rushing attacks by signing

six-time Pro Bowl guard Nate Newton. 

Terms of the deal were undisclosed. 

The 6-3, 320-pound Newton started 180 of 191 games for Dallas

over the past 12 seasons and helped the Cowboys win three Super

Bowl titles.  His contract with Dallas expired after the 1998

season. 

"I'm glad that the Carolina Panthers are giving me an

opportunity to further my career," Newton said.  "I'm just going

to come in, work hard and compete for a starting job." 

The Panthers also released veteran tackle Corbin Lacina, who was

signed as a free agent from Buffalo last year. 

Behind a relatively inexperienced offensive line, the Panthers

ranked 13th in the NFC with 90.9 rushing yards per game last

season. Carolina selected Georgia tackle Chris Terry with their

first pick in the second round of the 1999 draft. 

Newton, 37, appeared in the Pro Bowl six of the last seven

seasons. He started all 16 games last year and was part of a

unit that allowed a league-low 19 sacks. 

"We're happy to have Nate here," Carolina offensive line coach

Tony Wise said. "He's going to lend a lot of experience to a

group of guys that need to gel and come together." 

A Florida A&M product, Newton began his career as a free agent

with the Washington Redskins in 1983 and was waived on the final

cut.  From 1984-85, he played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the

defunct USFL before signing with Dallas in 1986. 

The Cowboys did not attempt to re-sign Newton in order to move

Larry Allen back inside to left guard and start Flozell Adams,

their second-round pick in 1998, at left tackle. 

Lacina started 10 games for the Panthers in 1998. 

st 06-16-99 18:24 et