David Tepper Frontrunner To Buy Panthers?
The Panthers may be on the verge of having a new owner soon. David Tepper is the frontrunner to succeed Jerry Richardson and buy the Charlotte, N.C.-based franchise, Joe Person, Katherine Peralta and Rick Rothacker of the Charlotte Observer report.
Tepper refuted an April report that he was out of the mix to make this acquisition, and it appears the hedge-fund billionaire is close to moving forward with this purchase. Worth approximately $11 billion, the 60-year-old Tepper has the most capital of any of the men vying to buy the team, per the Observer trio. Tepper’s finances being the least complicated aided his bid, per Person, Peralta and Rothacker, who add Tepper was back in Charlotte on Wednesday meeting with team officials.
This comes after another potential buyer, Ben Navarro, wanted to involve Peyton Manning as a part-owner. Alan Kestenbaum and Michael Rubin represented the other bidders for the team. Richardson’s son, Mark, put weight behind Navarro to be his father’s successor. However, Tepper now appears to be leading the race, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting Jerry Richardson has zeroed in on Tepper. Although, the Observer reporters caution this deal is not finalized.
Rapoport adds (via Twitter) Tepper wants to keep the Panthers in Charlotte. This deal could be ready to be approved by the next set of owners’ meetings in Atlanta later this month, per Rapoport, who also reports Tepper is the only one of these potential buyers who could be approved by the upcoming meetings. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora writes he’d be “shocked” if Tepper wasn’t the next Panthers owner, adding this sale could be announced early next week.
The report indicating Tepper was out doesn’t appear to have been entirely off base, either, with La Canfora reporting Tepper has told confidants at multiple times during this process he was out. But evidently he’s back in and ready to finish the process. Additionally, La Canfora reports Manning was unlikely to join Navarro’s ownership group.
Since Tepper has been a part-owner of the Steelers since 2009, he also would not need to be approved by the NFL. Many NFL owners wanted Tepper to win this race, the New York Times reported in April.
Panthers Sign RB Kenjon Barner
Free agent running back Kenjon Barner is signing with the Panthers, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Barner also visited the Bills before agreeing to terms with Carolina. 
The Panthers added C.J. Anderson earlier this week, but they found themselves in the running back market again after losing Fozzy Whittaker to a season-ending ACL tear. Barner ranks no higher than third at his position thanks to the presence of Christian McCaffrey and Anderson, but he can provide valuable depth as well as some support in the return game.
Barner, a 2013 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, spent the last three seasons with the Eagles. In 2015 and 2016, he was productive despite limited snaps, compiling 253 rushing yards on only 55 carries (4.6 yards per attempt). Last offseason, he signed a one-year free agent deal with the Chargers but returned to Philly after he missed the Bolts’ final 53-man cut. He saw less time at running back than ever in 2017, but he did average a respectable 8.9 yards per punt return.
Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/18
Here are the rest of Thursday’s draft pick accords:
- The Buccaneers signed one of their three second-round picks in cornerback M.J. Stewart (No. 53 overall), Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. They also agreed to terms with their final three picks — Kansas State safety Jordan Whitehead (Round 4, pick 117), Penn wide receiver Justin Watson (Round 5, pick 144) and Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy (Round 6, pick 202).
- Five-sixths of this Falcons draft class is now signed. Atlanta agreed to a deal with third-round defensive tackle Deadrin Senat (No. 90 overall out of South Florida). After already signing four other selections, only first-rounder Calvin Ridley remains unsigned.
- The Steelers signed one of the safeties they drafted last month in agreeing to terms with Penn State product Marcus Allen (Round 5, pick 148). Pittsburgh also signed Alabama defensive tackle Joshua Frazier (Round 7, pick 246).
- The Jaguars came to terms with four of their seven draftees — the final four Jacksonville selected in this year’s draft. N.C. State tackle Will Richardson (Round 4, pick 129), Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee (Round 6, pick 203), Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs (Round 7, pick 230) and Mississippi State punter Logan Cooke (Round 7, pick 247) all signed their first Jags contracts Thursday. Cooke has a clear path toward the Jags’ punter job since the team released Brad Nortman two days after the draft.
- Beginning their signings, the Titans agreed to deals with half of their four-man draft class. Tennessee signed Arizona cornerback Dane Cruikshank (Round 5, pick 152) and Washington State quarterback Luke Falk (Round 6, pick 199). The latter will attempt to develop behind Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert.
- Following suit in bringing aboard the back half of their draft, the Bills agreed to deals with four rookies. Jacksonville State safety Siran Neal, Virginia Tech guard Wyatt Teller (Round 5, pick 166), Clemson wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud (Round 6, pick 187) and North Carolina wideout Austin Proehl (Round 7, pick 255) signed their initial Buffalo deals.
- Second-round Panthers pick Donte Jackson (No. 55 overall) signed his rookie contract. Indiana tight end Ian Thomas (Round 4, pick 101), Ole Miss defensive end Marquis Haynes (Round 4, pick 136), Maryland linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. (Round 5, pick 161) and Miami defensive tackle Kendrick Norton (Round 7, pick 242) followed suit.
Panthers Place Fozzy Whittaker On IR
Fozzy Whittaker‘s season has ended before it could even begin. The Panthers announced the running back has been placed on injured reserve with a non-contact ACL tear. 
[RELATED: Panthers Bidder Wants To Involve Peyton Manning]
Whittaker, 29, has spent the last four seasons with the Panthers. For the most part, he’s been used as a reserve option and a third-down running back. He saw the most usage of his career in 2016 when he carried the ball 57 times and averaged an impressive 4.6 yards per try in that limited sample. Last year, however, he had just seven carries in 12 games.
The Whittaker injury is bad news for Carolina, but they are not lacking options in the backfield. The Panthers will start Christian McCaffrey with 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Anderson getting a fair amount of work as well. Cameron Artis-Payne is also on hand for backup work and newcomer Elijah Hood figures to have a better chance at making the roster now that a spot has opened up.
Panthers Bidder Wants To Involve Peyton Manning
Panthers bidder Ben Navarro has made contact with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning regarding a limited ownership role if Navarro were to land the Carolina franchise, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, who adds Manning is considering the offer.
Manning has long been connected to NFL front office openings, but Person’s report doesn’t mention any possibility that Manning would be involved in personnel decisions. That could certainly change, of course, if Navarro does indeed secure the Panthers, as he’d likely want to remake the club’s front office. General manager Marty Hurney recently had the interim tag removed from his title, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be asked to stick around once new ownership is in place.
Manning, 42, hasn’t made a re-entrance to NFL life since retiring following the 2015 campaign. He was recently linked to a position within the Browns’ front office, but Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam denied ever making Manning an offer. Earlier this year, both ESPN and FOX heavily pursued Manning as a television analyst, but he rejected overtures from both networks.
The remaining bidders for the Panthers include Steelers minority owner David Tepper, steel magnate Alan Kestenbaum, and entrepreneur Michael Rubin, according to Person.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed: RB Elijah Hood (from Raiders)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed: WR Ka’Raun White (from Seahawks)
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Brandon Chubb
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
- Waived: LB Sae Tautu
Details On Curtis Fuller's Resignation
Earlier this week, we learned that Curtis Fuller had resigned from his gig as the Panthers defensive backs coach. While no explanation was provided at the time, ESPN’s David Newton reports that the decision stemmed from the NFL’s investigation into owner Jerry Richardson.
“After approaching Coach Fuller with the findings of an investigation into complaints of inappropriate conduct, we accepted his resignation,” said team spokesperson Steven Drummond. “The Panthers are deeply 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.”
- Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff says he’s still hoping to add defensive line depth in free agency (Twitter link via 92.9 The Game). That would help to explain Atlanta’s recent interest in former Redskins and Cowboys defensive tackle Terrell McClain. After losing defensive tackle Dontari Poe to the Panthers and Adrian Clayborn to the Patriots earlier this offseason, the Falcons are looking to restock the front four.
Panthers Sign RB C.J. Anderson
The Panthers have agreed to sign running back C.J. Anderson, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter) adds. 
Anderson turned in his first career 1,000-yard season in 2017 after tearing a meniscus in 2016. However, with no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, the Broncos released him this offseason in order to save $4.5MM against the cap.
Anderson reportedly drew interest from eight clubs after hitting the open market in mid-April. The Dolphins showed interest in trading for Anderson before the Broncos cut him and, depending on who you ask, the two sides may have been close to a deal that would have sent right tackle Ju’Wuan James to Denver.
In Carolina, Anderson will serve as a depth piece behind rising sophomore Christian McCaffrey. His arrival could lead to the displacement of backup Cameron Artis-Payne or Fozzy Whittaker. The Panthers did not add a running back in the draft, but the addition of Anderson should fortify their RB group in a major way.
Former Titans DB Michael Griffin To Retire
Longtime Titans safety Michael Griffin will sign a one-day contract to retire with Tennessee, the club announced today.
Griffin, 33, spent nine seasons with the Titans from 2007-15. During that time, the former first-round pick was a mainstay in the club’s secondary, making 141 appearances and 133 starts. While never a star, Griffin did earn two Pro Bowl nods with Tennessee, and was also named second-team All-Pro in 2010. In his run with the Titans, Griffin ranked as a top-10 safety in interceptions, forced fumble, and approximate value, Pro Football Reference’s value over replacement metric.
Griffin bounced around at the end of his career, as he agreed to a one-year contract with the Vikings in 2016 but failed to make the team’s roster out of training camp. He subsequently landed with the Panthers and played in 13 games, but didn’t find a deal for the 2017 campaign.
PFR extends it best wishes to Griffin as he enters retirement.
Panthers GM Discusses Draft
With their first-round pick, the Panthers ended up selecting Maryland wideout D.J. Moore. However, General Manager Marty Hurney told SiriusXM’s Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn that his team was considering several players with the pick, including Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley.