It’s truly a new era for the Carolina Panthers.
According to a report by the Charlotte Post, the team is taking down the statue of former franchise owner Jerry Richardson which stands out front Bank of America Stadium.
The statue of Jerry Richardson, Panthers founder is set to come down af 2 p.m. Current owner David Tepper purchased the franchise in 2018. Part of the contract included keeping this statue. pic.twitter.com/9Q4cO7neHN
— The Charlotte Post (@thecharpost) June 10, 2020
Richardson brought the NFL to the Carolinas in the mid-90s when he founded the franchise. However, he was forced to sell the team two years ago after allegations of workplace misconduct surfaced, including sexual harrassment and racist remarks.
The statue was to remain in place even after the sale as part of the agreement between Richardson and David Tepper, but clearly things on the ground have changed over the last few weeks.
To their credit, the Panthers have encouraged players to engage in peaceful protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by the Minneapolis police. This is another significant step towards making it clear this is not just a PR campaign.
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