Packers trade long snapper Jansen to Panthers

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers traded long snapper J.J. Jansen to Carolina on Monday for a conditional 2011 seventh-round draft pick, perhaps signaling the end of veteran Jason Kyle's eight-year run in that position with the Panthers.

Kyle has never botched a regular-season snap, but the Panthers don't have the salary cap space to re-sign him because of the stalemate with defensive end Julius Peppers. General manager Marty Hurney said Monday they still could re-sign Kyle, an unrestricted free agent, later in the offseason.

The Panthers could gain almost $17 million in cap space if they trade Peppers, who wants to play for another team and has yet to sign his one-year tender under the franchise tag.

If Jansen makes the Panthers' regular-season roster, Carolina will surrender a seventh-round pick in 2011.

Jansen was an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame last year and was pegged as Green Bay's successor to retired veteran Rob Davis. But Jansen sustained a torn ligament in his left knee in the Packers' final preseason game and was placed on injured reserve.

The Packers signed Brett Goode, who went on to have a solid season.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)