The Carolina Panthers re-signed quarterback Andy Dalton on Tuesday to a two-year contract, giving them a veteran presence behind starter Bryce Young heading into the 2025 season.

The 37-year-old Dalton, who threw for 989 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions in five starts last season, was set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Dalton joined the Panthers in 2023 and spent the past two seasons mainly backing up Young, the No. 1 overall pick that year.

However, Dalton was thrust into a starting role in Week 3 last season when first-year head coach Dave Canales benched Young after the Panthers started 0-2 and were outscored 73-13. Canales said at the time he turned to Dalton because he felt he “gave the Panthers the best chance to win.”

Dalton responded by throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns in his first start, a 36-22 road win at Las Vegas. However, he lost his next four starts before being sidelined with a sprained thumb following a car crash in Charlotte.

Young regained the starting job and never looked back.

League rescinds Mixon’s fine for comments

The NFL has rescinded a $25,000 fine Houston’s Joe Mixon received for comments about officiating in the Texans’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs after an appeal by the running back.

Mixon was given the fine for his comments following the 23-14 loss where Houston’s defense was penalized twice for hits on quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Appeals officer Chris Palmer said in a letter to Mixon, which was obtained by ESPN.com, that during the hearing process on Jan. 30 he found that Mixon “did not necessarily publicly criticize the officials.”

When asked about the officiating after the game, Mixon said: “everybody knows how it is playing up here.”

“You can never leave it into the refs’ hands,” Mixon said. “The whole world sees, man, what it is. When it comes down to it, you can never leave it into the refs’ hands. It’s all good, though.”

Palmer said in his letter to Mixon that the “integrity of the game and its officials is the responsibility of everyone involved in the NFL.”

“During the appeal hearing, you stated what you meant by your statements referring to the officials,” Palmer said in the letter. “As you know, statements can be interpreted differently by every individual and it seems like you clearly understand the weight and detriment of public criticism towards officials can be, given how impactful your platform is as a player, which I appreciate.”

WNBA

Quinn: Investigation was ‘learning experience’

Seattle Storm coach Noelle Quinn said it was a “learning experience” to endure an external investigation of her and her coaching staff over allegations of harassment and bullying.

The investigation found no wrongdoing, and Quinn’s comments to reporters were her first since the probe concluded.

“I believe that the organization did the right thing,” Quinn said. “Throughout this entire process, the communication level was tremendously high. I felt supported in a lot of ways and I know my staff felt supported as well. With anything like this, it is important to take the right steps and our organization did that.”

Seattle general manager Talisa Rhea said she’s confident in her coach and that the team, which is led by Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, can succeed on the court.

NBA

Miller to lead NBC game analysis next season

Reggie Miller will be NBC Sports’ lead game analyst when it begins its coverage of the NBA next season, the network announced.

Miller has been one of TNT Sports lead NBA analysts for 20 years. He called his 18th All-Star Game this past weekend.

When Miller joins NBC in October, he is expected to call one or more games per week during the regular season and playoffs.

Coincidentally, some of the top moments in Miller’s 18-year playing career with the Indiana Pacers occurred on NBC, which carried NBA games from 1990 through 2002.

That included Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks when he scored eight points in a span of 9 seconds at Madison Square Garden to beat the New York Knicks.

Miller — elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 — also was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary team.

F1

Monaco may get more pit stops

The Monaco Grand Prix has long been nicknamed “the jewel in Formula 1’s crown” but for all the sparkle, the racing has often been dull.

That could change with a planned rule change that would require drivers to stop in the pits at least twice, potentially shuffling the running order on Monaco’s narrow streets at least a little.

The Formula 1 Commission, which brings together F1 teams and management with the governing body, the FIA, met Tuesday ahead of the new season launch event in London and “agreed to increase the numbers of mandatory pit stops” in Monaco, the FIA said.

The rule change isn’t yet set in stone — the FIA said the “proposals will be further discussed” by a committee — but Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it would mean a minimum two stops per race, rather than the current one, and for cars to use three different tire compounds.

Briefly

NFL >> The Washington Commanders have hired Jesse Madden, John Madden’s grandson, as an offensive quality control coach.

NFL >> Ben Cleveland of the Baltimore Ravens has been charged with drunken driving in Georgia.

NBA >> Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma and Canadian model Winnie Harlow announced their engagement.

Soccer >> Neymar, Memphis Depay and Thiago Silva are among the leading Brazilian footballers protesting against using artificial turf for league matches instead of natural grass.

— From news services