Tepper respects strength of on-field football as essence of organization

The Carolina Panthers winning attitude starts at the top….

As the Carolina Panthers get ready to play their second preseason game against the Miami Dolphins Friday, it should be noted that there’s a solid organization that directs the 24^th iteration of the team that will emerge from the heat and effort of training camp.

While it starts at the top with David Tepper, who bought the team ($2.275B) from Jerry Richardson because of Richardson’s misdeeds in area of sexual misconduct/racist remarks, lets agree that in the Big Picture, it was an upgrade that was handled as smoothly as can be imagined at all levels. Tepper has incredibly deep pockets financially, the respect of many for his NFL experience (a long time 5% stake in Steelers, which he had to sell), and he knew he had a great stadium situation with a successful team in a growing city that supports it very, very well.

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Perhaps most importantly, he respected the football playing side of the business.

If and when he decides to leave Spartanburg and the Wofford College (Richardson’s alma mater) campus behind as a training site, well, that’s Tepper’s prerogative. The point is, all Panther fans had to concern themselves with so far in 2018 was which new guys to cheer for besides Luke, Cam, Thomas & Greg, not whether the team would be relocated like a lemonade stand. From January until the final NFL okays made Mr. Tepper the ‘official’ owner, fans were worried for a very short period of time about what came next, because he left important personnel like General Manager Marty Hurney and head coach Ron Rivera— known quantities doing a good job–alone.

David Tepper bought the team  from Jerry Richardson ($2.275B) because of Richardson’s misdeeds in area of sexual misconduct/racist remarks, but let’s agree that in the Big Picture, it was an upgrade that was handled as smoothly as can be imagined at all levels.

If Hurney isn’t already at front of the line for NFL Executive of the Year, he should be. Without examining all 31 other teams situations, the straight up results of players drafted (Christian McCaffrey last year, Donte Jackson, DJ Moore, Marquis Haynes this year) might well be regarded as a bellweather year for the franchise. Hurney ‘fixed’ the question of team speed at skill positions quickly, especially getting free agents Torrey Smith and Jarius Wright early, and believing injured players like Damiere Byrd and Curtis Samuel would be important assets when they were healed. He (at Richardson’s command) made sure Greg Olsen and Thomas Davis got paid righteously as productive pillars of the organization should be when he came back last year, and that is a good reason Devin Funchess should keep his attention on his game and not his wallet. Several others (ie- running back CJ Anderson) are on one-year contracts, and as kicker Graham Gano’s contract can attest, players who consistently produce WILL be taken care of.

‘Riverboat Ron’ Rivera enters year eight as the Carolina Panthers head coach, already possessing two Coach of the Year awards. Rivera got an extra year when it counted early vs. being fired after one of teams down years, which to date means every other year with a sub-.500 record. Based on lofty expectations for 2018, a fall from 11-5 would probably be cause for termination, but right now, nobody in their right mind would suggest he’s got one foot on a banana peel if there’s not a deep playoff run.

Rivera and the Carolina Panthers are recognized as an organization that promotes from within. There are three new coordinators on the team: Norv Turner (offense) has an excellent reputation with QB development, Eric Washington (defense) moved into bigger chair after seven years as D-line coach; Chase Blackburn (special teams) is a lesser known name now in his 3^rd year with team. Steve Wilks and Sean McDermott were the previous defensive coordinators, and they left the Panthers to become head coaches in Phoenix and Buffalo. If Turner gets Newton to begin putting a little air under long throws to the wideouts, GREAT! Funchess and Moore are both known for going up and getting jump balls. Hitting 64% of a lot more throws (avg. 31 per game) would be awesome stats.

Without having paid much attention to predictions or improvements other teams have made, the Panthers took care of their business during the off season. Cleveland has Baker Mayfield now, even if Tyrod Taylor is still listed as the #1 QB, and the Jets have Sam Darnold and hope, Detroit…I forget what they have. Tampa Bay? Pssshhhh. Atlanta and New Orleans? Brees still scares people, and their running game produced 23 TDs last year, so yeah, the Panthers ‘D’ better have it strapped on *good* when they get it on with the team that beat them three times last year. Julio Jones (ATL) will NOT get 300 yards against any Panthers team with Donte Jackson in the secondary, and possibility of seeing Marquis Haynes get turned loose in JOKER-speed rusher role against $30M man Matt Ryan brings a smile.

Prediction for the Carolina Panthers is for lots of smiles by fans, offense and defense handling their areas in much better fashion than last year. Playing the NFC and AFC East this year makes for a tougher road, and while preseason is only at game two, the real check point for this team will be in January.