To say the Carolina Panthers have enjoyed a disastrous start to the 2023 season would be an understatement.
Through five weeks of play, the Panthers are the NFL’s only remaining winless team. And whereas some of the other bottom feeders all do something well (the awful Chicago Bears can consistently generate explosive offensive plays, for example), it’s hard to point out what the Panthers can hang their hat on. No wonder they’re seeking (desperate?) receiver trades to try and elevate Bryce Young.
At the center of Carolina’s latest miserable season is head coach Frank Reich. A celebrated offensive mind and the former leader of the Indianapolis Colts, Young is Reich’s first real attempt at developing his own franchise quarterback. It also means he’s likely been given more trust by Panthers owner David Tepper. Though, perhaps not enough.
After Carolina’s latest dispiriting defeat to the Detroit Lions, Reich tried to sort through the Panthers’ ongoing mess. He centered on his personal relationship with Tepper and appeared to describe what sure sounds like an unhealthy dynamic; like one where an “engaged” Tepper might be far too involved in football decisions.
Is he perhaps talking … about Young?
This is troubling to say the least.. pic.twitter.com/Pxx3f592ru
— Michael Rimmer (@avl_mike) October 9, 2023
Phew. Let’s rewind what Reich said precisely because none of it sounds promising if you’re a Panthers fan:
“Talk to him [Tepper] every week, multiple times. Usually talk either Monday or Tuesday after a game,” Reich said. “And he’s super competitive. Wants to bring a winner to the Carolinas. He wants it now. Wants it now. And pushes me and pushes us to that end. He wants to do whatever it takes and turn over every stone. Turn it as much as he has to to produce winning football. So, I appreciate those conversations—they’re always very challenging. He’s a super-competitive person. He’s not gonna sit idly by.”
I don’t mind that the owner cares about his football team, but that sounds like it borders on micromanagement. Why hire a coaching staff at all if you’re going to look over their shoulder?
At the very least, it doesn’t appear that Reich enjoys how Tepper approaches the team:
“There’s different philosophies in ownership. Some owners kinda stay away and don’t engage a whole lot. Other owners do. And his philosophy [Tepper] is he’s gonna engage.
And listen, it’s only been a short experience, but it’s been a really good experience. It hasn’t been fun. It’s not fun. Those meetings, I wouldn’t characterize them as fun meetings. But those meetings make me better and I trust they make us better.”
That little “it’s not fun” is so telling and could be hinting at some signs of discord behind the scenes in Carolina. If Tepper is this hands-on with Reich, who’s to say it wasn’t he who pulled the strings to draft Young instead of, say, C.J. Stroud? Rumors swirled that Reich and Carolina quarterback coach Josh McCown preferred the former Ohio State product in the offseason. But then the Panthers pivoted to the “college legend” quarterback with the lowest professional ceiling on paper (while trading a No. 1 receiver in D.J. Moore to move up from No. 9 overall). C’mon now. It just didn’t seem like a worthy home run swing of that kind of draft deal. (Stroud has, of course, been brilliant for the Houston Texans, who drafted their signal caller after Carolina.)
The Young decision didn’t add up then, and tidbits like this Reich ownership tangent have given us more puzzle pieces. We are a mere six weeks into the NFL season and the Panthers are already in trouble.
NFL fans thought Reich was hinting at Panthers ownership forcing him to draft Bryce Young
"I wanted C.J. Stroud. You see that man balling?" https://t.co/nnnmDrSrMN
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 10, 2023
This was painful to watch because it isn’t the first time I’ve heard him say this.
It’s an open secret in the league that the owner heavily influenced the QB choice, which is never ideal. https://t.co/AFMJy4hcAf
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) October 10, 2023
This is bad news for Panthers fans. Won’t have a winning franchise if this is the structure. https://t.co/cBihU9wd4j
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) October 10, 2023
It is *checks notes* Week 6 of *checks notes again* YEAR 1 https://t.co/ojqDcZFkkp
— JP Acosta (Pug Dederson Stan Acct) (@acosta32_jp) October 10, 2023
Having a meddling owner who sucks at meddling is the worst possible thing that can happen to an NFL franchise https://t.co/cgMZfXDAB7
— matt (@sponhourm) October 10, 2023
look if you're gonna force a guy to take a specific quarterback and also trade away your best receiver to get that quarterback, it's gonna be a bad time no matter what https://t.co/xfWEaM2VSi
— Katie (@KatesOfHeaven) October 10, 2023
It’s pretty obvious Reich and co wanted Stroud but Tepper intervened and made them take Bryce https://t.co/TofagTX1Cu
— Stevie Ray (@CaspianWint92) October 10, 2023
We all know who Frank Reich & them boys actually wanted. https://t.co/zuydIZSeA7 pic.twitter.com/G4sEv6Bgnc
— CJ Anderson SzN 💫 (@AyooTexanNation) October 10, 2023
Reich just came out and said it. Holy smokes.
If you’re Bryce Young — and your coach essentially just implied they wanted Stroud — how do you have ANY confidence moving forward? Brutal. https://t.co/WWtnw48OP1
— Brett Gibbons (@roadtocfb) October 10, 2023
