As it turns out, the biggest story today is not the fact that quarterback Cam Newton will be throwing passes during the Carolina Panthers’ first mandatory minicamp practice, but rather the news that the team has signed one of their tryout players to a contract.

The Panthers announced today that they have signed linebacker Sione Teuhema after he impressed the coaching staff at the team’s rookie minicamp last month. To make room on the 90-man roster, the Panthers waived defensive tackle T.J. Barnes.

Teuhema was recently a member of the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF and played college football at Southeastern Louisiana. He was an undrafted free agent and spent time in rookie camps with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets before landing in the AAF.

Teuhema is a longshot to make the final 53-man roster given the talent the Panthers currently have at linebacker, but there’s always a chance that he can impress enough to stick on the practice squad this year. At the very least he has a shot now, so it will be interesting to see what he does with the opportunity.