What a joke.
The Carolina Panthers are the biggest embarrassment in the NFL, and owner David Tepper found one final way to close out 2023 in shame.
Tepper was in the stands during the closing moments of the Panthers’ 26-0 beatdown at the hands of the Jaguars on Sunday, when it appears he either bickered with a fan, or simply took exception to something the fan said. Without missing a beat he threw his drink at the fan, before storming out of the box.
Full clip of Tepper throwing a drink (assault) at Jags fans without the terrible quality that’s been spreading.
David Tepper should now be FORCED to sell the team. pic.twitter.com/wOgNcdWGWO
— Obi, the Panthers fan in Texas (@obipanthers) December 31, 2023
It’s been almost 48 hours since the incident, and neither Tepper, nor the team have released a statement on throwing the drink. Presumably the owner and organization had hoped the cover of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day would distract from what happened — which is mostly true, but now there are serious questions surrounding how the league will act.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports there’s talk in league circles that Tepper could face a suspension from watching his own team play.
Talking with folks around the league the last few days, a substantial fine and potential suspension from game(s) has to be on the table for David Tepper from the NFL. That there’s been no apology since — not a peep — from the team is unusual, to say the least.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 2, 2024
It’s yet another chapter in the Panthers’ new normal. Every week there seems to be something new to be ashamed of when it comes to this franchise on the field, and now there’s increasing issues popping up off of it.
Tepper has largely been immune from attention for this latest incident. Being a small market owner has given him the benefit of staying out of the 24 hour news cycle in a way other NFL owners wouldn’t benefit from. If Jim Irsay or Jerry Jones threw a drink on an opposing fan we’d be hearing about it endlessly for days on shows like First Take, but Tepper is aware he can skirt through relatively unscathed — which is why he hasn’t felt pressured into releasing a statement yet.
This newest incident is just gross. This franchise needs to turn the page and build some sort of confidence, but once again we’re back to square one in Charlotte and everything feels bad once more.
It remains to be seen how much incidents like this could damage the perception of the Panthers to the point the franchise struggles to land a coach they want, or whether the entire ethos surrounding Carolina results in turning away talent, as well as coaches.
The Panthers have become a joke on the field and off the field, and it’s because of David Tepper.
