The Panthers are set to bring back former general manager Marty Hurney to take over for the fired David Gettleman. Hurney is meeting with Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who reports that the club will hire Hurney on an interim basis if the interview goes well. Hurney would run the Panthers through 2017, and the team would use that time to vet full-time candidates (Twitter link).
Hurney works for ESPN Radio in Charlotte, but he previously served as the Panthers’ GM from 2002-12 and oversaw three playoff teams – one of which earned a Super Bowl berth. The Panthers went just 80-85 during that span, but Hurney was nonetheless responsible for bringing in a few of their current linchpins in Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis and Greg Olsen.
In reuniting with Hurney, the Panthers would pass on reported GM candidates in their own director of college scouting, Jeff Morrow, Titans director of player personnel Ryan Cowden and Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen. However, those three (and others) could still be possibilities down the line for the Panthers, who look poised to turn to Hurney, head coach Ron Rivera and director of team administration/salary cap specialist Rob Rogers in a temporary power structure, as Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Well, congratulations Olsen. You just cost this team any continuation of a cultural overhaul towards long-term success which was sorely needed, so you can cash in one last time on your way out the door. Thanks. Meanwhile, the organization will still be reeling from the incoming fiscal nonsense that Hurney brings to the table, that Gettleman just dug us out of, while you’re retired and sucking margaritas with your family in some other town. ‘Preciate it. Swell guy.
Really… you’re going to blame a player trying to maximize his earnings? How about blaming Jerry Richardson for being a moron? This was a shortsighted, knee-jerk move and if he had an intelligent bone in his body he would’ve kept Gettleman on regardless of any nonsense. Classy to place the blame on one of your three best players though.
You’re right. Class is a multi-millionaire going to the media to complain about money and intimating that he’d break his willfully given word by holding out. But I can see how you’d think he’s a team player and a victim though.