Two even scarier ones: He's baaaaack.

SportsLine.com has learned that White, the leading sacker in NFL history, has agreed to contract terms with the Carolina Panthers and will end his one-season retirement from the league in a state where he already had a burgeoning presence.

White, 38, will sign a five-year contract worth about $10 million. He will earn $2 million this year, with $1 million of that guaranteed and $500,000 of it in a signing bonus.

The Green Bay Packers, who still own White's contractual rights, will not seek compensation from the Panthers, general manager Ron Wolf said.

Reggie White won't wave goodbye to the NFL just yet.(Allsport)

Debunking reports that White was likely to sign with Seattle and Mike Holmgren, his former Green Bay coach, SportsLine.com first reported Wednesday afternoon that the Panthers quietly had become the franchise most likely to sign the player dubbed "The Minister of Defense." At that point, substantive discussions were already under way and the elements of the agreement began to come together Wednesday night.

The acquisition of White by Carolina brings its flirtation with the 14-year veteran and 13-time Pro Bowl performer full-circle. SportsLine.com first reported in February that the Panthers and Washington Redskins had discussed the possibility of adding White to their defenses. But the conversations with the Panthers never advanced beyond the casual stage at that point and the Redskins signed another future Hall of Fame member, Bruce Smith, instead.

Shortly after Smith's signing, White phoned his longtime friend Smith to discuss the possibility he might return to the field and to seek counsel.

Last month, White spoke with Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, his former defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, about ending his hiatus. Titans officials pursued White for the past three weeks, but negotiations broke off this week when Tennessee would not offer more than $750,000 on a one-year contract.

Over the past few days, the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars also acknowledged they had spoken with White's representatives. SportsLine.com also has learned the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams made a contract offer to agent Jimmy Sexton within the past 48 hours.

But the Panthers won out for several reasons: White owns property in Lake Norman, N.C., and may build a home there. He is heavily involved in Morningstar Ministries, based in Charlotte. The Panthers play their home games on grass. Carolina defensive end Chuck Smith, signed this spring as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons, is a close friend and confidant and the two men have the same agent. White greatly admires coach George Seifert and feels the Panthers will be a playoff contender in 2000.

Certainly, several sources allowed, the decision was not based in finances. The Panthers had just $211,000 remaining under the salary cap as of Thursday and had to be judicious with their offer.

Despite published reports the Panthers spent some time this week attempting to decide between White and free agent Eric Swann, their interest in the former Arizona defensive tackle released two weeks ago was not as ardent as advertised. One team source called Swann's workout for Panthers officials "very disappointing" and Carolina never made him a formal contract offer.

Like several other teams, the Panthers were concerned about Swann's knees. In his nine years in Arizona, he underwent seven knee surgeries and missed 21 games the past three seasons because of the procedures.

White retired after the 1998 season with Green Bay, having recorded 192½ career sacks.