Carolina Panthers Morning Edition
Well, we have a little closure this morning from the rumors and speculation of John Fox’s status as the Carolina Panthers’ head coach.
It had been speculated, even said by Fox, that he was “very interested” in the head coaching position of the Cleveland Browns. Rumors indicated that since Fox wasn’t happy about his contract not being extended beyond 2010, nor entering this season a lame duck coach.
Certainly that’s understandable, from the perspective that a person wants to know their job’s future is secure. However, when your performance is below expectations, you usually don’t receive a raise–extension in this case. Sometimes you get fired. Fortunately for Fox, it’s the former and not the latter.
Sticking with the obviously shaky Jake Delhomme for three-quarters of the season, when the team has a very competent quarterback in Matt Moore, should have warranted Fox’s dismissal from Carolina.
But two things played largely into his favor. Team owner Jerry Richardson is a patient man, and the fact that if he were to be fired, the Panthers were still obligated to pay the $6.5 million contract he’s due in 2010. Might as well keep him around and give him the chance to succeed, and maybe earn an extension.
Finishing 2009 with an 8-8 record keeps Fox in the hot seat for one more year.
Panthers in search of a new QB coach?
It certainly sounds like it.
Steve Reed of Carolina Growl.com, reports that quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer interviewed Thursday, Jan. 7, for the offensive coordinator position at the University of Virginia. He appears to be the leading candidate for the position, according to sources. An announcement could come within the next few days.
Scherer does have one year remaining on his contract with Carolina, but a change to the college ranks would give him more than a year of job security.
State of the Panthers’ Franchise
The NFL Playoffs get underway this weekend. Two teams that won’t be involved are the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. They also share something else in common. They both just completed their 15th season.
The owners of both franchises paid a $140 million expansion fee to field their teams.
The Jaguars are knee-deep in specualtion of their franchise’s future and location. They were unable to sell-out games at home, suffering gameday blackouts to the Jacksonville market.
The Panthers built a stadium with the help of 40,000 fans who purchased Permanent Seat Licenses (PSL’s), which are fees that only give fans the option to buy season tickets.
Today, Forbes Magazine estimates the Panthers’ franchise is worth $1 billion.