Latest On Allegations Against Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson
The Panthers announced earlier this week that they’ve opened an investigation into workplace misconduct by owner Jerry Richardson, an inquiry that has now been taken over by the league. In a detailed story posted Sunday, L. Jon Wertheim and Viv Bernstein of Sports Illustrated provide a comprehensive look at the allegations against Richardson.
Richardson’s misconduct seems to have entailed both inappropriate sexual comments and activity directed towards female Panthers employees, plus a racial slur aimed at an African American scout. The sexual conduct involved remarks about women’s appearances, personal grooming, clothing, as well as possible improper touching. “Looking back,” one former employee told the SI scribes, “he was gaining our trust before doing things he shouldn’t be doing.”
In addition to the alleged racial slur, “antebellum echoes” encompass the franchise, as employees refer to Richardson simply as “Mister.” “It was a power culture. You did what Mister said, when he said it,” says one former employee. “He thinks he’s really great. You’re supposed to reinforce that… Even when he does things that make you feel like half a person, that you know are wrong.”
Per Wertheim and Bernstein, Richardson has regularly reached financial settlements with accusers, but those negotiations are finalized with non-disclosure and non-disparagement language attached. As such, there is little in the way of paperwork regarding the claims against Richardson, but one former employee said she has in fact seen documentation detailing sexual harassment charges against the franchise owner.
Panthers Owner Under Investigation For Workplace Misconduct
SUNDAY, 10:06am: The NFL is taking over the Richardson investigation at the Panthers’ request, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer tweets, Carolina made the suggestion in an effort to remove any conflict of interest that may have existed with Bowles overseeing the investigation.
Under the prior investigation parameters, Richardson would participate in the team’s daily affairs as normal. However, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says now that the league has taken over the investigation, it is unclear whether that will remain the case (Twitter link).
FRIDAY, 5:08pm: Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is under internal investigation for alleged workplace misconduct, according to Jim Trotter of ESPN.com. Carolina has since released a statement on the matter.
“The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct,” team spokesman Steven Drummond said. “The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it.”
The investigation, per the team’s statement, will be led by an outside law firm and Panthers limited partner/former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles. “Erskine Bowles is a trusted leader of unquestioned integrity. We look forward to this report, which we know will be honest and thorough,” Drummond said.
Richardson, 81, has been the Panthers’ owner since the franchise’s inception in 1995. He is the only former NFL player to own a club.
The Vikings Need A Quarterback In 2018
Currently boasting a 10-3 record and holding the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture, the Vikings are the best NFL team without a clear quarterback plan for 2018. Sure, the Jaguars and Bills could be making changes under center this offseason, but neither of those clubs have the overall talent — at running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, and on the defensive side of the ball — that does Minnesota.
The Vikings have excelled with Case Keenum and (for a one game) Sam Bradford throwing the ball, but both of those signal-callers — and the now-recovered Teddy Bridgewater — are free agents in 2018. Complicating matters is that incumbent offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is expected to draw head coaching interest during next year’s hiring cycle, and if Minnesota is forced to bring in a new play-caller, he may want to choose his own quarterback.
Whether or not Shurmur returns, the Vikings are going to have several difficult decisions to make over the next few months. Let’s take a look at the club’s options at quarterback, beginning with the players currently on their roster:
Internal Options
Case Keenum: A journeyman who’d posted a quarterback rating of just 78.4 during his first five years in the NFL, Keenum is in the midst of his best season as a pro. His passer rating of 96.2 ranks ninth in the league, while he’s seventh among QBs with 6.99 adjusted net yards per attempt. Keenum has only taken 15 sacks on the year (fewest among quarterbacks with at least 300 pass attempts), which speaks not only to improvements along the Vikings’ offensive line, but Keenum’s ability to evade pressure.
Keenum, who is playing on a one-year, $2MM contract, appears poised to cash in this offseason, and it wouldn’t be a total surprise if he garners a deal that approaches $18MM annually, especially given the number of teams looking for quarterback help. That figure won’t be a problem for the Vikings, who rank sixth in available 2018 cap space, but it’s unclear if Minnesota views Keenum as a long-term option. The Vikings reportedly haven’t begun extension negotiations with Keenum or any other their quarterbacks, and don’t plan to do so until the 2017 concludes.
That Minnesota hasn’t started contract talks with Keenum is a bit odd, if only because the club will likely face competition to retain Keenum if he hits the open market. The Broncos, Jaguars, Bills, Jets, Browns, and Cardinals are among the teams who could be searching for a quarterback this offseason, so the Vikings may want to take advantage of their exclusive negotiating window. While Minnesota will have the option of deploying the franchise tag on Keenum, the steep price tag (~$23M) makes that course of action unlikely.
Teddy Bridgewater: One of the more inspiring stories in the NFL this year, Bridgewater has valiantly worked his way back from a knee injury suffered prior to the 2016 season. Bridgewater, a first-round pick in 2014, hasn’t played a single snap this season after being activated in early November, but he’s serving as Keenum’s direct backup. It’s fair to wonder if the Vikings will attempt to get a look at Bridgewater in live action over the last three games of the regular season, but the club’s fight for playoff seeding could preclude them from removing Keenum from any of the next three contests.
While the Vikings clearly have a soft spot for Bridgewater (they were “tempted” to start him last month), it’s important to remember that the 25-year-old didn’t exactly light it up from 2014-15. Among the 30 quarterbacks who attempted at least 500 passes in those two seasons, Bridgewater ranked 22nd in passer rating, 25th in adjusted net yards per attempt, and 29th in touchdown percentage. Bridgewater didn’t have the benefit of Minnesota’s current weapons (Adam Thielen was a special teams player until 2016), but it’s difficult to argue there isn’t any risk in relying on Bridgewater.
Sam Bradford: Bradford did what he could as the Vikings’ starter in 2016: while playing behind arguably the league’s worst offensive line, Bradford set an NFL record for completion percentage but struggled to get the ball down the field, finishing just 23rd in air yards. An excellent 2017 season opener (346 yards, three touchdowns against the Saints) offered hope for the current campaign, but recurring knee issues limited Bradford to only one more half of play before he was placed on injured reserve in November.
Given his injury risk, Bradford may have to accept a one-year, incentive-laden deal this offseason. Depending on the price, such a contract could potentially interest the Vikings, especially if they also re-sign Bridgewater or another low-cost quarterback. Bradford, 30, should have a market, but with a number of enticing options available as free agents this offseason, his knee problems will likely limit his overall earning power.
Free Agents
Drew Brees: Brees’ contract with the Saints will void on the final day of the 2017 league year, and if New Orleans doesn’t reach an extension with its franchise quarterback, he’ll count for $18MM in dead money on the club’s 2018 salary cap. Recent reports have indicated no negotiations have occurred between the two sides, but it’s frankly odd to consider Brees playing for any other club, especially since the Saints have added several exciting young players and improved their defense.
If Brees does consider other teams, though, the Vikings would immediately jump to the top of list. In some ways, Minnesota and New Orleans have similar roster makeups that include solid offensive lines, effective running games, multiple pass-catching weapons, and playmaking defenses. Again, Brees returning to the Saints seems like a near-lock, but the Vikings and their win-now roster would make for a possible fit if he leaves.
Kirk Cousins: Washington’s decision to not extend Cousins looks worse and worse as the season progresses, as the club has now paid its quarterback nearly $44MM over the past two years. A third consecutive franchise tag for Cousins would cost the Redskins $34.5MM in 2018, and the team is reportedly no longer considering the cheaper transition tag, a tender which would make it easier for rival teams to make Cousins offers. Cousins will require the largest and longest contract of any contract on this list, but he’d solve the Vikings’ quarterback question for years to come.
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NFL Workout Updates: 12/15/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
New York Giants
- LB Tyrell Adams (link)
New York Jets
- Ts Korren Kirven, Javarius Leamon (link)
San Francisco 49ers
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from injured reserve: LS Aaron Brewer
- Claimed off waivers: CB C.J. Goodwin
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted to active roster: TE Kyle Carter
- Placed on injured reserve: TE Blake Bell
New York Giants
- Promoted to active roster: S Ryan Murphy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived off injured reserve: DE Evan Panfil
Raiders Place DB Obi Melifonwu On IR
The Raiders have activated cornerback Antonio Hamilton from injured reserve and placed safety Obi Melifonwu on IR, the club announced today.
Melifonwu, whom Oakland selected earlier this year with the 56th overall pick, will now see his lost rookie campaign come to an end. The former UConn Huskie underwent knee surgery in August and missed eight weeks, and has now had an operation on his hip, as head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters, including Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link).
While the Raiders had hoped Melifonwu would aid a pass defense which ranks dead last in DVOA, he ended up playing only 34 defensive snaps over five games. Oakland will need Melifonwu at full health in 2018, as the club is likely counting on him to step into the starting lineup given that veteran safety Reggie Nelson will hit free agency.
Hamilton, who went undrafted out of South Carolina State in 2016, has appeared in eight total games during his two-year NFL career. The 24-year-old will likely see most of his action on special teams as the season comes to a close, but he’ll also serve as a reserve cornerback behind T.J. Carrie, Sean Smith, and David Amerson.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT T.Y. McGill
- Waived: OL Andrew Wylie
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Jarrod Clements
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Jack Tocho
NFL Workout Updates: 12/14/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Green Bay Packers
- DB Alex Carter (link)
Minnesota Vikings
- TEs Sam Cotton, Steve Donatell (link)
New England Patriots
- LB Kacy Rodgers; DBs Chandler Fenner, Jonathon Mincy (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
Oakland Raiders
- DEs Johnny Maxey, Arthur Miley; DT Toby Johnson (link)
Broncos’ Trevor Siemian Dislocates Shoulder
Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian suffered a dislocated shoulder in tonight’s contest and will miss the final two games of the 2017 season, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link).
Siemian’s third NFL campaign will end after a year-long run of disappointing results, as the former seventh-round pick couldn’t live up to his surprisingly effective 2016 season, his first as a starter. Nearly every metric showed a drop-off, as his adjusted net yards per completion dropped by nearly 25%, while his total quarterback rating slipped by 25 points. On the year, Siemian tossed 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions after posting a 18:10 ratio a year ago.
Unlike 2016, Siemian didn’t enjoy an uninterrupted string of success this season, as he was initially removed from the starting lineup after eight starts. Both Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch were utilized without success, and Lynch is now injured. With Osweiler the only healthy signal-caller on their roster, the Broncos will likely need to sign another quarterback to get through the remainder of the season.
It’s unclear if Siemian (or any of Denver’s current quarterbacks) will remain in the club’s 2018 plans, but if so, it will likely be as a reserve. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link) reported earlier tonight that the Broncos are likely to explore any and all outlets — including free agency, the draft, and trade — in search of a franchise quarterback this offseason.
Cardinals Place RB Adrian Peterson On IR
The Cardinals have placed veteran running back Adrian Peterson on injured reserve, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Peterson is dealing with a neck injury, but won’t require surgery, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
Peterson hadn’t played since Week 12, and just yesterday Arizona head coach Bruce Arians indicated he “had no idea” if Peterson would play again this season. The Cardinals’ decision-makers evidently decided that running Peterson out for the final three games of the year wasn’t worth the risk, especially given that the 6-7 club has virtually no chance of earning a postseason berth in a stacked NFC.
Arizona acquired Peterson from the Saints in early October, shipping a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick in exchange for the 32-year-old back. The exact parameters of that trade have yet to be reported, so it’s unclear exactly what kind of return the Saints will get for Peterson. But clearing his salary off their books was likely incentive enough for the deal, and allowed New Orleans to move on from an unwise two-year contract.
Upon hitting the desert, Peterson was immediately more involved in the Cards’ offense that he’d ever been with the Saints, and posted 134 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in his Arizona debut. He’s been up-and-down since that point, however, and topped 80 yards just once more in his final five games of the 2017 campaign. In three of those contests, Peterson didn’t even manage two yards per carry.
Peterson is under contract in 2018 with a cost of $3.5MM attached, but it’s not readily apparent as to whether general manager Steve Keim & Co. have any intention of retaining Peterson. The Cardinals will see the return of dynamic third-year pro David Johnson in 2018, meaning Peterson would be relegated to backup duty. Arizona would clear Peterson’s entire cap charge by cutting ties.