Cat Crave
FanSided

Panthers: Tepper a leading candidate for owner

By Brandon Scott

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 14: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 14, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 14: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 14, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Carolina Panthers should be naming a new owner very soon…

Carolina Panthers founder and original owner Jerry Richardson announced his intentions to sell the franchise in late December. Amid allegations of workplace misconduct, Richardson put the team up for sale after bringing the Carolinas and Charlotte an NFL franchise over 20 years ago.

The surprising move comes as Richardson remains under investigation from the NFL and as the franchise continues moving forward amid a cloud of uncertainty. Carolina entered the offseason without a full-time general manager, owner and with new coordinators in every facet of the team – offense, defense and special teams.

As the organization moves forward, signing coach Ron Rivera to a contract extension and eventually naming Marty Hurney as the general manager initially appear to be steps in an effort to control the amount of changes currently taking place. Each is obviously familiar with the Panthers and despite changes the new owner may wish to make, both appear to be safe for the time being.

Carolina desperately needed a direction within their personnel department as the NFL Scouting Combine is fast approaching and the Panthers need decision makers on which prospects to target at the draft. Hurney was tabbed as the best option without ownership approval.

Hedge fund investor and American philanthropist David Tepper has been tabbed as a leading candidate for the next Panthers owner. Currently a five-percent ownership holder with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the connection makes sense as Richardson, the Panthers and Steelers have shared a common bond for many years.

More from Cat Crave

Both have played numerous times throughout the preseason despite hailing from opposite conferences in an effort to prepare each for every upcoming NFL season. Richardson and Dan Rooney were close friends so having a member of the Steelers ownership group take control of Carolina would obviously be something the Panthers owner would likely approve.

While Tepper’s roots are in Pennsylvania with his current business interests based out of Miami, the investor has ties to organizations up and down the east coast. Adding Charlotte to his list, in addition to becoming a full-time NFL owner, Tepper would be expected to leave the Panthers in their home city although stadium arrangements would be negotiable.

With the purchase price expected to exceed $2.5 billion, fronting more money for a new stadium would seem to be only a future consideration – especially given the Panthers have recently upgraded Bank of America in the last few years.

Next: Panthers Life after Cam Newton

All initial indications are that Tepper would be approved by other owners, having a stake in a current NFL franchise, and ready to lead the Panthers for the foreseeable future.

Home/Carolina Panthers News