4 crucial matchups that will decide Panthers at Saints in Week 17
By Noah Bryce
Matt Rhule vs. Carolina Panthers fanbase
Matt Rhule‘s time with the Carolina Panthers has been tumultuous, to say the least. Things came to a head with chants of “calling for the head coach to be fired ringing out over Bank of America Stadium in Week 16.
Shutting out that noise is something that the former Baylor man will have to do if the team is going to have any chance of turning things around.
The embattled Rhule took things in stride during a rather bizarre press conference that included an odd comparison to the career of rapper Jay-Z coupled with his usual lack of taking responsibility for the team’s struggles.
This has been a theme with Rhule as it is always someone or something else’s fault when the team struggles. Like the firing of former offensive coordinator Joe Brady, for instance.
With each insincere comment and deflection of blame, Rhule loses another section of the fanbase and possibly the locker room. And an angry fanbase is a loud fanbase.
If Rhule even wants to stick around in Carolina, the embattled coach needs to do something drastic to change his image. Something like winning a game, perhaps?
Barring that, taking responsibility for his own bad decisions and lack of proper planning will at least calm the fires slightly and allow the team to move on. Turning out yet another frustrating performance could make the calls become deafening for owner David Tepper.
Seeing how Rhule approaches the fans this week and beyond will be telling as to whether or not he can make it in Carolina and the head coach’s future is balanced on a knifes edge as it is. One wrong step and the Panthers might find themselves back to square one.