The Carolina Panthers are the only winless team in the NFL, which is going to draw heat to their decision to draft former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Especially with former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall selection, balling out for the Houston Texans.
Panthers head coach Frank Reich took to the podium on Monday to assess the team’s latest loss, a 42-24 humbling at the hands of the Detroit Lions.
At some point during the conversation, a reporter asked Reich about his relationship with Panthers owner David Tepper. Reich certainly didn’t pull any punches with his answer.
This is troubling to say the least.. pic.twitter.com/Pxx3f592ru
— Michael Rimmer (@avl_mike) October 9, 2023
“There’s different philosophies in ownership,” Reich said. “Some owners kinda stay away and don’t engage a whole lot, other owners do. [David Tepper’s] philosophy is he’s going to engage.”
Reich went on to say while working with ownership was a “good” experience, he stressed that it wasn’t fun.
“It’s only been a short experience, but it’s been a really good experience,” Reich said “It hasn’t been fun, it’s not fun. Those meetings, I wouldn’t characterize them as fun meetings.”
NFL fans were quick to deduce what Reich meant by Tepper “engaging” with his team, namely that he had the final say in drafting Young over Stroud.
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
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
https://twitter.com/DoubleChina7/status/1711745097161728188
Sounds like David Tepper made the decision to draft Bryce Young despite the coaching staff wanting CJ Stroud and THANK GOD HE DID. 🙏🏽#WeAreTexans #KeepPounding https://t.co/HtOmq4RBo8
— VT (@brownchubbybear) October 10, 2023
