Agent: Dan Morgan's health paramount

May/24/07 10:01 AM Filed in: Dan Morgan
Colorful, candid NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus talked with the Observer's Charles Chandler before giving a speech at a Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon Wednesday. In the interview, Rosenhaus discussed controversies involving clients Clinton Portis and Terrell Owens and the prospects for Panthers clients Dan Morgan (linebacker) and Justin Hartwig (center-guard):

Q. Are you concerned about Morgan playing again despite his history of concussions? Of course, I'm concerned. I care about Dan, not as a client, but as a friend, as a brother. I'm concerned because of the severity of the situation, but I want to assure you we've been very thorough. We've been very careful. He's healthy, he's normal. He's got a normal baseline right now.
What may happen in the future? We're hoping for the best. But one thing I can promise you is we are not going to, in any capacity, risk it. If anything should happen, he'll retire.

Q. How does the Panthers picking the draft's top center, Southern Cal's Ryan Kalil, in the second round last month affect Justin Hartwig, who was slated to be Carolina's center when he signed a lucrative free agent deal last year? I talked to the team about it. I think the feeling is that Justin is one of the more versatile linemen. Justin can play guard. He was drafted as a tackle. He has a great deal of versatility. He's not the kind of player that a rookie is going to come in and beat him out. But he's an unselfish player and he'll play any position.