The Panthers persuaded Johnson, their prized defensive end, to agree to a contract worth $72 million over six years and that includes a $30 million signing bonus. The team confirmed the deal Tuesday night and Johnson said he plans to sign the deal on Friday.

“The Panthers told me the whole time they were going to come after me hard,” Johnson said. “I had to see it to believe, but they did.”

Johnson said he was “blown away” by Carolina’s offer and the money convinced him to choose Carolina over Atlanta and Denver, who also expressed interest.

“Could you have turned that down?” Johnson said of the contract with a laugh.

The Panthers put the full court press on Johnson.

General manager Marty Hurney, coach Ron Rivera and several members of the defensive staff flew to Miami on Monday night in an effort to make sure Johnson wouldn’t get away.

“A lot of people in my family were rooting for me to sign with Atlanta because it was closer to home and they could come see me play,” said Johnson, a native of Hawkinsville, Georgia “But I think they understand.”

Johnson had a breakout season for the Panthers in 2010 with 11 1/2 sacks in his first year as a starter. He had a combined 10 sacks his previous two seasons playing behind veteran ends Julius Peppers and Tyler Brayton .

Johnson said he was impressed at how important the Panthers made him feel by bringing a good portion of the coaching staff along.

“They showed so much respect for me, I wanted to show it back,” Johnson said.

Aside from the money, Johnson said his love of the Charlotte community played a role in his decision.

“Once you are settled in somewhere you get comfortable,” Johnson said. “Money aside, it wasn’t a hard decision for me to leave because I am tied into Charlotte.”

Johnson said the first thing he plans to do with some of the signing bonus is take care of his family, most of which still lives in Georgia and some of whom wanted him to sign with the Falcons.

He said the Falcons initially showed a lot of interest, but backed off once they learned of Carolina’s offer.

Johnson can sign his contract Friday, but can’t join the Panthers at training camp until Aug. 4 under new league rules. Until then he will remain in Miami and continue to train.

“To say I’m thankful doesn’t begin to describe it,” Johnson said. “I’m so excited. I’m ready to get back to football.”
 
 
Owners, players settle lawsuits

Meantime, the NFL and players already had let the world know they worked out their differences. On Tuesday, they formally gave word of the settlement agreement to a pair of federal judges overseeing three pending court cases.

In separate conference calls Tuesday, lawyers for both sides in pro football’s labor dispute spoke to US District Judges Susan Richard Nelson and David Doty to say they’ve settled, contingent on a new collective bargaining agreement being finished by Aug. 4.

The leadership of the NFL Players Association voted unanimously Monday to agree to a deal to end the 4 1/2 -month lockout. Owners OK’d an agreement last week.

Nelson was the judge in the federal class-action antitrust lawsuit filed by Tom Brady(notes) and nine other players March 11, the day that federally mediated negotiations in Washington broke down, allowing the old CBA to expire. The NFLPA said it was dissolving the union and becoming a trade association, which allowed players to sue under antitrust law.

Now, as part of Monday’s deal, the NFLPA will re-establish the union this week. The sides then will negotiate areas that only a union can bargain in a CBA, including drug testing, player discipline and disability and pension programs.

The pact requires that those issues be resolved and a full CBA be done by Aug. 4; no one involved believes that will be a problem.

Doty has oversight for the “lockout insurance” case and a separate collusion claim by players.

On March 1, Doty ruled that the NFL failed to maximize TV revenues for the players, essentially leaving money on the table for the last two years to gain leverage in the labor fight. At a hearing in May, the players asked Doty to make $4 billion in disputed broadcast revenue off-limits to owners; the NFLPA also asked him to award players more than $700 million in damages.

In January, the union accused teams of conspiring to restrict players’ salaries last offseason.