Panthers Owner Describes Next Coach, Talks 'Funeral,' Rules Out Hiring Bill Belichick from New England Patriots?
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is being portrayed as quite a "meddler,'' and there is a reason that is worthy of debate; If I own the team, am I really "meddling''?
But Tepper is also coming across as a bit of a kook - and his recent comments that reflect negatively on the rumor that he's planning a pursuit of New England Patriots legendary boss Bill Belichick might just end the "kook'' debate.
If he was ever in, is Bill Belichick now out as a potential next coach of the Panthers?
There is some buzz and there is some logic to the idea that the floundering Panthers, having just fired yet another short-term coach (this one Frank Reich), might be interested in building a solid foundation by handing over the organizational reins to Belichick. (That's not to say Belichick and the Patriots aren't also "floundering,'' but still. ...)
But Tepper, it seems, has another plan. A funeral plan.
“I would like to have somebody here (as coach) for 20 or 30 years,” Tepper said. “I would like to have somebody (who is young enough) that (he) would say the eulogy at my funeral in 30 years. OK, maybe it’s 40 years, I hope.”
Tepper is 66. Belichick is 71. So ... the "eulogy'' timing thing doesn't quite line up. And maybe, for Belichick, that's for the best. Since taking over ownership of the team six years ago, Tepper has fired three head coaches and a general manager in the middle of the season - Ron Rivera, Marty Hurney, Matt Rhule and now Reich.
All in all, we don't know when Tepper's funeral will be. But we know that one of the best ways for a coach to see his career killed is to work for him.
