The Carolina Panthers have signed punter Jason Baker to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. Baker, who would have become an unrestricted free agent after the upcoming season, is now signed through the 2012 campaign.

Baker led the NFC with a net average of 39.0 yards and 31 punts inside the 20 and finished second in the conference with a gross average of 45.7 yards in 2006. The first alternate for the Pro Bowl, he achieved personal bests for gross average, net average, punts inside the 20 and total punts with 98. Baker established a team record for net punting average for the second consecutive season, while his number of punts and gross average stand second in team history and his number of punts inside the 20 equal the second most in team history.

"I'm real happy. What I'm able to do on the field is a gift from God," Baker said. "It's a blessing to be able to continue my career in Charlotte. I'm very grateful to the Richardson family, Coach Fox and Marty Hurney."

Acquired in a trade from Denver during the 2005 offseason, Baker led the NFC and ranked third in the NFL with a 38.9 net average in his first season with Carolina. As a rookie with San Francisco in 2001, he earned All-Rookie honors from Pro Football Weekly after averaging 40.8 yards and landing 21 punts inside the 20.

Entering his seventh NFL season and third with the Panthers, Baker has played with six different teams and has been waived six times. He is looking forward to finally having some stability in his career.

"I've been waived. I've been hurt. I've been traded. It's been crazy," he said. "I'm pretty excited to maybe establish myself as a little more of a consistent member of the Charlotte community here for the near future."

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