Here’s the very moment in which Brian Burns was no longer a Carolina Panther:
We can actually pinpoint the second where the hearts of Carolina Panthers fans ripped in half this offseason.
The latest episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks gave us an inside look into the very moment in which fan favorite Brian Burns was traded to the New York Giants.
Watch as cameras document Giants general manager and former Panthers scout Joe Schoen navigating his way through negotiations with Carolina president of football operations/general manager Dan Morgan:
Joe Schoen: “I said 39 he said no. I said if it’s 39 it’s just 39. If you want an extra pick it’s 47 and a 2025. Dan {Morgan} said he’s waiting on the owner.”
As shown, Daniel Thomas Morgan agreed to send the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher off for 2024’s 39th overall pick, a 2024 fifth-round pick swap and a 2025 conditional fifth-round pick. The painful departure came after Burns and the Panthers were unable to reach a long-term pact, one he’d promptly receive from the Giants upon the completion of the deal.
Morgan, a few weeks later, explained why the tough decision had to be made.
“You know, those are always difficult conversations and, and decisions that you have to make from the seat that I’m in,” he said, at the NFL Annual League Meeting in late March. “We love Brian. The player he is, the person he is, but sometimes you’ve got to make tough decisions, and the salary cap along with draft capital that we got, we felt like it was, you know, time to pull the trigger and make a move.
“We felt like the timing was right. And yeah, those are always tough decisions, but we had to make it, and we feel OK about it.”
Well, by the looks of that clip, we know Schoen and the Giants were certainly OK about it, too.
Panthers HC Dave Canales on the Teppers: “I see a couple who is really passionate about their team.”
So, what is it like working for the Teppers?
New Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales was the featured guest on Tuesday’s episode of The Season with Peter Schrager. Host Peter Schrager (obviously) asked Canales about the early stages of his working relationship with team owners David and Nicole Tepper.
“That’s been fantastic,” he replied. “I see a couple who is really passionate about their team. And sometimes, Nicole more than David—she just like absolutely loves Panthers football. And the whole thing, the community—she’s like so fired up to serve and find, like, ‘Who can we bless? Who can we go and spread this . . . ?’ Her deal’s like, ‘I just wanna come out to practice and enjoy the energy of what I’m seeing.'”
The feeling seems to be mutual with Nicole, who has previously lauded Canales for his energy and his attention to detail.
And what about David?
“And with David—to be able to be with him and pick his brain and, like, lean on the successes that he’s had. He’s unbelievably successful in terms of like when we think of leadership and all those things. I’m able to kinda sit with him and watch him just, like, courageously bring us together. ‘Ok, let’s evaluate free agency. Let’s evaluate the draft process. How did that go, guys? How was it? What went well? What didn’t go well? Why not?’
“And there’s no blame, there’s none of that. It’s just like can we speak the truth? Can we go into things with our eyes open and courageously say, ‘Ok, this didn’t work, let’s fix it, let’s move forward?'”
Dave is David’s third head-coaching choice over the last five years.
We know of one guy who was probably happy on Monday night . . .
David Tepper may have been the butt of a joke or two on Monday night, but it was he who had the last laugh.
This evening, the Charlotte City Council—by a vote of seven to three—approved plans for the massive renovation of Bank of America Stadium. The Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC owner issued the following statement shortly after the passing of the proposal:
“Today’s vote by the Charlotte City Council is the culmination of many thoughtful discussions with city officials, local leaders, and our fans to create a shared vision for Bank of America Stadium. Nicole and I are grateful for the collaboration and support of the project, as well as our ongoing partnership between Tepper Sports & Entertainment and the city.”
“For nearly 30 years, Charlotte has been the home of the Carolina Panthers and, more recently, Charlotte FC. We are proud to be in the Carolinas and look forward to delivering a venue that meets the needs of our community, players, and fans for years to come.”
The city is now set to invest $650 million into the project, which is expected to begin work in 2026.
Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown on David Tepper: “The behavior of someone that’s asking us for $650 million is ridiculous.”
At least a few members of the Charlotte City Council aren’t fully in on the expensive facelift for Bank of America Stadium.
On Monday night, the council convened to openly discuss the proposed renovation plans for the home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. Council member Tiawana Brown—who not only represents, but has lived in District 3 for her entire life—had some strong words of skepticism about handing over $650 million to Panthers owner David Tepper.
“It sounds good, don’t it?” Brown said of the projected economic growth of the project. “It sounds real good until we get Mr. Tepper angry again at [Tepper Sports & Entertainment]. And then he might throw something at city council. I’m being very, very honest. The behavior of someone that’s asking us for $650 million is ridiculous.”
Strong comments from councilwoman Tiawana Brown ahead of tonight’s vote regarding the BofA Stadium Improvements Project. She says she not in favor of the proposal. A full vote is still pending. pic.twitter.com/L20WhGnDgP
Brown, of course, is referencing the incident involving Tepper in Week 17 of this past season—when he appeared to toss the contents of a cup towards fans inside EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Tepper was fined $300,000 by the NFL for those actions.
She continued, stating that the plan’s lack of transparency has given her pause.
“When you send me an email, as your servant in this seat—’cause it’s not mine. I’m sitting in this seat that’s elected for the people, by the people. If I lose this seat, it’s because the people don’t want me here anymore,” Brown added. “But I’m going to do the best that I can do, standing in my truth, trying to figure out what we can share on this deal. I don’t have enough information, I don’t feel comfortable moving forward with it at this level.”
By the completion of her piece, Brown was the third council member to oppose the project.
The city of Charlotte may be eyeing a new stadium for the Carolina Panthers in 2046.
The proposed renovations for Bank of America Stadium may only be a temporary fix for the Carolina Panthers.
As reported by WSOC-TV’s Joe Bruno earlier this afternoon, the city of Charlotte could be eyeing a brand-new home for the Panthers and soccer club Charlotte FC. A provision in the Charlotte City Council meeting’s agenda on Monday, when the group is expected to vote on the Bank of America Stadium renovation project, proposes that the city could start talks towards a new stadium with Tepper Sports & Entertainment by April 1, 2037.
But hold those horses. This facility is not set in stone.
Here, per Joe Person of The Athletic, is a comment on the provision from a city spokesman:
This language does not establish that there will be a new stadium in 2046 but an acknowledgement that Bank of America stadium will be 50 years old at the end of the current proposed agreement and that the two parties will need to address that. It is also a protective measure for the city that establishes the soonest the two parties would begin those discussions and creates a forecast and timeline for future city staff and ownership. A similar provision has been included in agreements with the Hornets related to the Spectrum Center renovations and is a common stipulation in stadium/arena agreements.
In short—if the city okays the fixed $650 million investment proposed by the Panthers on Monday, then a discussion about a new stadium will happen.
New Orleans Saints game previews: Week 9’s midpoint brings a rematch against the Carolina Panthers at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium
We’re almost to the back half of the New Orleans Saints’ 2024 schedule — which starts with a rematch against their Week 1 opponent, the division-rival Carolina Panthers. And this game should be much more challenging than that season opener.
Any hiccups and hurdles slowing down Bryce Young should be well behind the young quarterback once November rolls around. The Panthers are introducing their third head coach in three years after David Tepper bought the team, having fired Matt Rhule and Frank Reich before turning to Dave Canales. Canales has a reputation as someone who can get the most out of his quarterbacks, and helping Young live up to his draft status as the 2023 first overall pick will be his top priority.
On top of that, this game is kicking off from Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers reported stronger home attendance numbers than the Saints did in 2023, and it’s likely to be a hostile environment, especially if Young and Canales are giving fans a good reason to show up. The Saints do own a 31-28 lead in the all-time series history with their NFC South rivals, but they’ve lost two of their last three games in Carolina, and only escaped with a 3-point win last season. This isn’t going to be a matchup they can take lightly, but it is one they should win.
Game information: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Cam Newton on David Tepper’s recent to Charlotte bar: “That’s how you lose a fanbase.”
We’ve learned that it’s pretty hard to get Cam Newton’s hat off of his head. So maybe he’s somewhat qualified, especially as a local legend, to speak on David Tepper’s cap-snatching visit to a popular Charlotte establishment.
Well, he did exactly that—on this week’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback commented on the Carolina Panthers owner’s recent stop into Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, which displayed a less-than-flattering sign regarding Tepper leading up to the 2024 NFL draft . . .
Panthers Owner David Tepper just stopped inside to have a word with the owners about the sign out front. This is not a joke #Pantherspic.twitter.com/SYI0AyOlk4
As first reported by Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer, Tepper walked into the bar and restaurant last Thursday after seeing the sign. Surveillance video of the visit showed Tepper seemingly speaking about the sign with two employees, one of which had his Philadelphia Eagles hat removed by the billionaire owner.
The exchange ended with a handshake, so Tepper’s latest eyebrow-raising incident wasn’t all that hostile. But hopefully, he takes Cam up on that challenge.
David Tepper is a lot of things: billionaire, hedge fund manager, NFL owner, philanthropist and, more increasingly, a sore loser.
Is it a surprise that a guy who can purchase just about anything he wants doesn’t like it when things don’t go his way? Absolutely not. Nor is it a surprise that he has a toddler-like grasp on his own temper.
But the thing about being in a position like Tepper’s is that there are always cameras watching. You don’t, say, expect no one to notice you throwing your drink at fans who actually paid to watch the putrid Carolina Panthers in person.
Tepper’s biggest flaw here may be letting everyone know how much this all gets to him. It’s the most widely known anti-bullying tactic.
He messed up big time by letting the restaurant know he drives by and views their signs. Do you know how many sports bars in this country wish they had a direct line to a team owner in their city? All of them. Every single one.
But because he has money and some semblance of power, Tepper believes there’s no situation he can’t bend to his will. Maybe that’s true in some industries, but not all of them. So if Tepper really wants to silence the fans who boo his teams and question his decisions, he might spend a little less time angrily storming into pubs and a little more time hiring people to win football games for him.
So long as he doesn’t try to tell them who to draft.
Panthers owner David Tepper paid a surprise visit to a local bar on Thursday night. Recently obtained security footage shows what went down.
A silly little sign outside a local restaurant and bar sparked an interesting pre-draft visit from Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper.
Per Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer, Tepper stopped in at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille just hours before the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. The surprise pop-in on Thursday evening can apparently be attributed to a message outside of the establishment, which read “PLEASE LET THE COACH & GM PICK THIS YEAR.”
Panthers Owner David Tepper just stopped inside to have a word with the owners about the sign out front. This is not a joke #Pantherspic.twitter.com/SYI0AyOlk4
WBTV would later obtain surveillance footage of Tepper’s interaction with the bar’s employees:
'LET THE COACH AND GM PICK' 🏈: Surveillance footage captured the moment @Panthers owner David Tepper walked into a Charlotte restaurant after a sign was put up prior to the NFL Draft.
Zietlow spoke with the bar’s owner, Matt Wohlfarth.
“It sounded a bit more on the joking side,” Wohlfarth said. “But also a bit mad. Otherwise he would’ve stopped in and had a drink.”
Wohlfarth told Zietlow that this wasn’t Tepper’s first visit to his place. He claims the billionaire owner also stopped in back in mid-January, when the sign outside read “MEDDLING OWNERS NEVER WIN. RUN FROM JERRY JONES.”
Tepper has gained a reputation as a hands-on owner, one that really came into focus following last year’s selection of quarterback Bryce Young. While many seem to believe Tepper had a major influence on taking Young with 2023’s No. 1 overall pick, the Panthers have maintained that the decision came from a collaborative effort.
Tepper is also no stranger to confrontation with fans, as he was captured tossing a drink toward the Jacksonville Jaguars crowd at the end of his team’s Week 17 loss this past season. The NFL fined Tepper $300,000 for the incident.
More nonsense from from Washington’s favorite critic.
Pro Football Talk blasted the Commanders on Friday.
The Commanders had entertained multiple players, including four quarterbacks, earlier in the week. It was a job interview, and apparently, Josh Harris and the Commanders were really out of line, according to Mike Florio and Myles Simmons.
“I think it is imperative to bring in these guys (quarterbacks) one at a time, know everything you can about them, get them all in with you. And that is where this has kind of gone off the rails for the Commanders. Because I’m hearing belief that maybe Jayden Daniels is not all that interested now in going to the Commanders,” Florio said during Friday’s installment of “PFT Live.”
Simmons replied: “You can pick up another asset (not picking Daniels and trading down), but is that going to be worth it if you are playing games and you don’t get the exact quarterback that you sensibly have fallen in love with throughout this draft process? To me, that would not make much sense. But, there are a lot of things about the way the Commanders have gone about, let’s call it, the last week that have not made much sense to me.”
Added Florio: “Here is the other thing I’ve picked up from somebody that I trust immensely, who is very plugged into the ownership scene. Josh Harris? A lot more involved than they thought he would be. … They brought them all in on the same day because that’s the day Mr. Harris was available to see them. That’s the only plausible explanation for having them there.
“Here is the danger, the David Tepper danger. This is when the owner is involved in any way. … At the end of the day, if you get it wrong, you better get it wrong with the guy the boss wanted. Your worst-case scenario is, the boss wanted this guy, and you went with that (other) guy, and that guy stinks. … Your long-term job prospects are best suited by giving the boss what you think the boss wants, and it all comes down to how vocal the boss is.
“You are the No. 2 guy. The people who know what they are doing, have Jayden Daniels as the clear No. 2 guy. So, when you have your visit to this team, that wants you supposedly, and the day is diluted by the three other quarterbacks being there. At some level you are going to be pissed. … There’s red flags there, and it all flows back to how the Commanders have handled it. It’s not anything about Jayden Daniels. It’s how the Commanders have handled Jayden Daniels.”
Wow, has it not yet occurred to Florio that comparing Harris to Tepper is extremely unfair to Harris? If Harris proves himself to be a Tepper, then yes. But for now, doesn’t that seem like attacking Harris prematurely?
Second, do Florio and Simmons fail to comprehend the Commanders have not presented any signs whatsoever that Daniels is obviously their guy?
Third, they are flat-out wrong because several analysts also think Drake Maye should be the second selection. The situation is not as simple as Florio and Simmons erroneously believe it to be.
Fourth, are any of the other quarterbacks who visited complaining about the process? So how can Florio and Simmons logically conclude it has to be the Commanders at fault in how they handled Daniels this week?
Simmons then proceeded to say twice the Commanders’ process was “disrespectful” to the prospective quarterbacks, expressing, “I am confused by this approach.”
Though Adam Peters and Lance Newmark stated there were both individual meetings and group time, this simply does not satisfy Florio and Simmons. Florio then called it “the strategy the Commanders concocted; I know people and am a student of the human condition. It’s disrespectful, it’s disrespectful to all of them.”
Florio then said the Commanders were treating the quarterbacks “like lab rats in a weird sort of way. … Let’s just put them in a room together and see how they act. Maybe one will kill the other three, and that will clearly be the right choice for us. … There is an element of evil scientist that comes through this, that is just offputting to me as an outsider.”
Florio then called it “this weird power-trip [expletive].”
