CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers have withdrawn their request for defensive end Jay Williams to take a pay cut.
In return, Williams will attend the final two weeks of voluntary coaching sessions, which resume Monday.
The decision was a compromise by Panthers team officials and Ron Del Duca, Williams' agent, who met Sunday in Charlotte.
The move doesn't guarantee Williams a spot on the roster and the team still could release him after training camp. However, coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney, both of whom attended Sunday's meetings, promised Williams a chance to win a job in camp.
``That's all we can ask for,'' Del Duca said. ``We think John and Marty were very fair and Jay now stands a chance to be paid what he's worth.''
Del Duca said last week that Williams would not participate in the remainder of the coaching sessions unless the Panthers agreed to restructure his contract.
If the Panthers release Williams, they would save $1.65 million under this year's salary cap. His salary, plus the remaining prorated portion of his signing bonus, counts $2.51 million against the team's salary cap. Williams is in the final year of his contract.
Williams started 27 games over the past two years for the Panthers, but is expected to be a backup after the Panthers drafted Julius Peppers with the second overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
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