PHOENIX New Panthers linebackerDevin Lloydis a man of few words, very direct in his manner.

But his impact is hard to miss.

After a career season with the Jaguars last year, the former first-round pick became one of the centerpieces of the Panthers' offseason, bringing them a new leader in the middle and signal-caller on defense. He didn't always call the plays in the Jaguars' huddle, but he was always involved.

"Devin is, I'll say this, a collision communicator," Jaguars coach Liam Coen said Tuesday at the league meetings at the Arizona Biltmore resort. "Like if you're kind of not sure what he's going to say, you're going to bump into his forehead, and he's going to say it.

"So I appreciate that."

Coen admittedly didn't want to lose his linebacker, but he also seemed to realize it was inevitable after the season Lloyd had last year, which included five interceptions and All-Pro honors.

The Jaguars took a calculated risk by not picking up his fifth-year option, and Lloyd went out and had the kind of season that the Panthers are now the beneficiaries of.

"I'm not saying he was playing pissed off, but he was planning to earn something," Coen said. "And you know I think some people had said he got picked on in coverage the year before, a little bit, and he was trying to, I think, have a mission that he was going to have a great year and go into a contract year. And credit Devin and the coaching staff, but specifically Devin, the amount of time he put into it.

"He was one of the first guys in the building, on off days, player off days, he's always there. And I'm talking like 11 at night, 10 at night, like late there in the gym, working out. He put in more time than most, and to see him have the year he had, to see him get paid and to be rewarded, that is rewarding for me, even though it stings, it's bittersweet.

"But really, credit Devin. He's extremely mature for being a young man, still mature beyond his years, and I do believe he's going to continue to get better."

The Panthers hope so, and have already seen signs of it.

Shortly after signing earlier this month, he got directions to the weight room and went to work, at a time when a lot of players are still thinking about the business side of free agency.

And the Panthers were eager to add that kind of leadership and talent to the position. If this franchise has been known for anything over the years, it's having that signature middle linebacker, whether it's Hall of Famers likeSam MillsandLuke Kuechly, or general manager Dan Morgan, or a multiple All-Pro like Jon Beason in between.

So hearing Coen's testimonial just backs up their decision, and what they learned about Lloyd in their research.

"Just heard a lot about his character," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday. "First of all, really productive on the ball. He had a fantastic year. intercepting it, play-style wise, high energy, good range. He's huge, by the way, he's 6-3 and change. But a really heady player.

"And then on top of all that, just the stuff I heard about him as a man, the leader that he is, the respect he had from his teammates, all those different things. It was just a great opportunity for us to bring him in there at a position that we really wanted a challenge, by bringing in some talent, whether it's through free agency or the draft to really make that room as competitive as some of our other rooms are."

And he also brings someone who knows how to deliver a message that's unmistakable.