NFL Briefs PRICE TAG FOR PANTHERS SITS AT $2.5 BILLION

N.C.» Bidding CHARLOTTE, for the Panthers has reached a record $2.5 billion, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

One candidate to purchase the team, Fanatics owner Michael Rubin, is currently not willing to go that high.

Rapper and mogul Sean “Diddy’’ Combs and Golden State Warriors all-star Stephen Curry were among potential minority partners with Rubin. At this point, billionaire businessman Joseph Tsai is the only confirmed partner with Rubin.

P.I. changes gain steam.

A proposal that would dramatically alter the NFL’s pass interference rules gained momentum this week during competition committee meetings, according to league executive vice president Troy Vincent.

The new rule, proposed by the Jets, would eliminate the NFL’s long-standing practice of making pass interference a spot foul. Instead, it would mirror the NCAA rule that marks off 15 yards regardless of where on the field the foul took place.

The competition committee itself has not endorsed the proposal.

Darnold throws in rain.

ANGELES» Given an out, LOS

USC quarterback Sam Darnold declined to move up his throwing session at his school’s pro day, choosing instead to throw under a steady rain in front of a throng of NFL decision-makers.

“I don’t think it would have been fair to change the schedule with all of the other guys training for the pro day,” Darnold said. “So I just wanted my guys to be comfortable — my teammates — that was first and foremost.

“But I also think it was a perfect opportunity to be able to throw in the rain and show these guys I could throw in the rain.”

No timetable on contract.

» Falcons general ATHENS, GA. manager Thomas Dimitroff said the team continues to negotiate with quarterback Matt Ryan’s agent but reiterated there’s no timetable on getting a contract extension completed for the one-time MVP.

• The Falcons have added depth at tight end by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with sevenyear veteran Logan Paulsen.

Lions sign Williams.

The Lions filled one of their biggest needs by signing former Broncos defensive tackle Sylvester Williams to a one-year deal.

The 29-year-old Williams, who helps the Lions replace Haloti Ngata, likely would slide into a starting role and be in an interior line rotation with A’Shawn Robinson and Akeem Spence, who both started at defensive tackle after Ngata was lost for the season.