REPORT: Tepper meets with Panthers on anthem policy
New Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is already at work in Charlotte…
After being unanimously approved by his fellow NFL owners, David Tepper assumed leadership and control of the Carolina Panthers. Only the second owner in franchise history, Tepper takes over for team founder Jerry Richardson, who resigned his responsibility and announced his intention to sell the team following allegations of workplace misconduct.
Tepper, who had previously been vetted by the NFL due to his five-percent ownership stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers, became a leading candidate late in the process and eventually secured the winning bid just last week. Now that he has been approved, the work begins moving Carolina into the future.
It didn’t take long for Tepper to be thrust into the spotlight over a controversial issue as league owners also adopted a new national anthem policy during the course of their spring meetings. The new standards state personnel who are on the field prior to the playing of the national anthem should stand but players will have the option of remaining inside the locker room.
I'm told David Tepper left owners meeting yesterday in Atlanta and flew to Charlotte to meet with Panthers team captains and leaders. He wanted to talk to players about the NFL's decision on national anthem policy. Source said there was good dialogue & discussion within group.
— Kelsey Riggs (@kelseyriggs) May 24, 2018
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Last season, no Panthers players knelt during the playing of the anthem but veteran defensive lineman Julius Peppers did remain in the locker room at least once. The new league adoption is interesting and has the potential to divide locker rooms based on a player’s individual beliefs, feelings and ultimately, action.
According to a report from Kelsey Riggs of WCNC, Tepper left the owner meetings and flew to Charlotte in order to meet with team captains and leaders. A source close to the situation reported that there was good discussion surrounding the new policy.
While it is likely the details of such a meeting between owner and players will remain behind closed doors, it will be interesting to see what action is taken moving forward when the season arrives.
Next: Panthers Bounceback Candidates in 2018
This continues to be a developing story, not only in Carolina, but throughout the NFL.