CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Defensive end Greg Hardy has signed his franchise tag tender with the Carolina Panthers, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been made official. Hardy, who said in January hed have no issue if the team used the franchise tag to keep him, will make $13.1 million for one season if he doesnt sign a long-term extension. The Panthers have until July 15 to sign Hardy to a long-term deal. After that date they cant discuss a contract extension until after the season is over. When the Panthers used the franchise tag on Hardy Friday, general manager Dave Gettleman said in a press release it was done so to buy more time to potentially work out a long-term extension with the former Mississippi star. "The franchise mechanism gives us time to secure the services of a very good player while we continue to look at the future of Greg with the Carolina Panthers," Gettleman said. "We have had great dialogue with both Greg and his agent. It was important to keep our defensive front together." The four-year NFL veteran had 15 sacks last season, tying a franchise record previously established by Kevin Greene in 1996, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Hardy has 26 sacks in his last two seasons. Hardy led the Panthers with 38 quarterback pressures last season and posted a career-high 67 tackles for the NFC South champions. The Panthers led the league in sacks last season with 60. Gettleman said Hardy was "a big reason we were able to lead the league in sacks last year and keeps our defensive line intact." Cheap MLB Jerseys . You can catch all of the action LIVE on TSN2 at 6pm et/3pm pt. The Heat reached that mark Saturday night when they ruined the Philadelphia 76ers home opener. 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Glenn, a Detroit native, has played 13 years in the league for the Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was a CFL East All-Star in 2007, and is currently 10th on leagues list of all-time leading passers with 36,666 yards. "Kevin has been a great contributor to our success the past two seasons and we wish him the best in Ottawa," said Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel in a statement. "Kevin was a true professional on and off the field and I thank him for all the great things he has done for us. "Were sad to see Kevin go, but were confident that our quarterback situation is in good hands with Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell, who benefitted a great deal from having been Kevins teammate these past two years." The Redblacks also selected quarterback Thomas DeMarco, defensive linemen Moton Hopkins and Jonathan Williams, Receivers Wallace Miles and Carlton Mitchell, offenive lineman James Lee and running back Chevon Walker in the first round. DeMarco has played for the BC Lions the last two seasons. "Our philosophy getting into this is to take the best players, it wasnt going to be a function of offence or defence," Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins told reporters. "Really, were sticking to that philosophy." "It became a function of having two guys that we felt were the best quarterbaccks available that were not going to be free agents," Desjardins told reporters.dddddddddddd "Thats a key component for us. "Obviously Kevin is very familiar with what were going to want to do offensively, which is a bonus. And we also have a combination of veteran leadership and younger players so we have all the elements in place that we think are going to help us be a strong team, specifically at that position." Walker, who has played two seasons for the Tiger-Cats, will likely be the feature back in Ottawa. Hopkins spent three seasons in the league, two in Montreal and one in Winnipeg, and Williams spent his two seasons playing for the Lions and Toronto Argonauts. Miles spent his two seasons in Winnipeg and Mitchell spent his this past season, his first, in Edmonton. Lee played this past season, his only in the CFL, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The second round allowed the team to select eight non-import players. The picks were: Offensive linemen Joe Eppelle (Toronto), Alexandre Kruasnick (Edmonton), JMichael Deane (Calgary), and Matt Albright (BC), as well as fullbacks John Delahunt (Hamilton) and Patrick Lavoie (Montreal), linebacker James Green (Winnipeg) and defensive lineman Keith Shologan (Saskatchewan). The third and final round allowed Ottawa to select eight more non-import: linebacker Jordan Verdone (Montreal), linebacker Jason Pottinger (Toronto), centre Marwan Hage (Hamilton), receiver Rory Kohlert (Winnipeg), defensive tackle Zack Evans (Saskatchewan), defensive end Justin Capicciotti (Edmonton), safety Eric Fraser (Calgary), and defensive tackle Andrew Marshall (BC). ' ' '