Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers has signed the one-year contract tender that accompanied the franchise tag applied to him on Feb. 19 the team announced today.

Peppers ranks first in club history with 70.5 sacks, 24 forced fumbles and eight blocked kicks. He started all 16 games for the fifth time in his career in 2008 and led the club with a career-high 14.5 sacks to go along with 63 tackles, 29 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and seven passes defensed. His 14.5 sacks tied for the second-highest single-season total in team history with Kevin Greene’s 14.5 in 1996, half a sack behind Greene’s 15 in 1998.

“Over the past few months we have had regular communication with Carl Carey, Julius’s representative, and all indications were that Julius would be signed to report to training camp,” general manager Marty Hurney said, “Julius obviously is a very valuable member of our team and we look forward to the 2009 season.”

Chosen second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, Peppers has been named a starter in four Pro Bowls and was a consensus All-Pro first-team selection in 2004.

The club also announced today the signing of seventh round draft choice Captain Munnerlyn, a 5-8, 186-pound cornerback from the University of South Carolina. Running back Markus Manson and cornerback Reggie Sullivan have been released.