How Dave Tepper continues to alienate the Carolina Panthers fanbase

The Deshaun Watson saga reflects badly on David Tepper and the Carolina Panthers

The Deshaun Watson saga ending in the quarterback going to the Cleveland Browns is an embarrassing moment in team history. For a whole year, the Carolina Panthers were pursuing the former first-round pick, but he eventually did not want to waive his no-trade clause.

Not only did this happen, but Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson have reportedly also done the same over the last two years.

Stafford wound up going to the Los Angeles Rams and he won a Super Bowl in his first season with them. Back-to-back offseasons of failure to get an elite quarterback after trying to bring one in is a sign of dysfunction.

Watson is likely going to play this season for the Browns. But he has 22 active sexual assault and sexual harassment cases he is still facing. The aftermath of Jerry Richardson’s disgraceful departure from the organization led to Tepper buying the team. And now, the new owner wanted to acquire a man who has concerning factors surrounding him of a similar nature.

An acquisition of Watson on the field would have been positive for the team. But parts of the fanbase, and especially women, would have likely not accepted Watson with open arms, and rightfully so.

The fact that the Panthers were as aggressive as they were in their attempt to trade for Watson further fractures the trust between them and some of the fans. And the failure to land the Clemson product is an indictment on Tepper and the organization.

The distaste among Panthers fans towards the team can be found across Twitter. Especially underneath official team tweets.

The fanbase is tired of the poor on-field performances, and they are tired of the mixed signals from ownership. The lowering attendance rate and the stadium regularly filled with road fans is a testimony of their patience being worn thin.

Tepper has next season to earn back the fans’ trust. If he cannot do this, the apathy and contempt may shift from Panthers fans to within the organization itself.