Greg Hardy Still Hoping For NFL Opportunity
Former Panthers and Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is now focusing on mixed martial arts, but he still hopes to find his way back to the NFL. Hardy says he is “damn ready at all times” to play in the NFL, though he knows that call might never come. 
“That’s the tricky part,” Hardy said when asked if he deserves another chance (link via Mark Francescutti of the Dallas Morning News). “I have to use everything I learned in martial arts and learn to let it go. I won’t force it. It’s them not giving me an opportunity.”
Hardy says he has agreed to play in 13 games with the Richmond Roughriders of the American Arena League with a contract that will allow him to opt out for an NFL deal. In the meantime, he is getting ready for an amateur MMA bout on Friday night. If the NFL never gives him another chance at taking the field, Hardy says his long-term goal is to become the UFC’s heavyweight champion.
Back in July, agent Drew Rosenhaus admitted that the window on Hardy’s NFL career is closing. Hardy did reasonably well for the Cowboys in 2015 as he started 15 games and graded out as the league’s 28th-best edge defender out of 110 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus. On the other hand, he’s a public relations nightmare and he was frequently late or absent from team meetings during that season, which marked his first “second chance”. Teams know that signing Hardy, 30 in July, would upset a good portion of the fan base and possibly disturb the locker room.
Right now, it still doesn’t seem likely that he’ll get another crack at redemption in the NFL. But, for what it’s worth, Hardy has not given up on the idea.
Photo via Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
First Prospective Panthers Buyer Emerges
The Panthers are the only NFL team up for sale, and the club may have its first serious bidder. South Carolina businessman Ben Navarro is “actively” exploring a potential purchase of the Carolina franchise, according to Jourdan Rodrigue and Katherine Peralta of the Charlotte Observer.
Incumbent owner Jerry Richardson put the Panthers on the market earlier this year following allegations that he not only sexually harassed female employees, but used a racial slur against a team scout. Richardson ceded day-to-day control of the club in December, but he remains under NFL investigation. Carolina, of course, is also without a long-term general manager, as interim GM Marty Hurney is dealing with his own off-field issues.
Navarro, for his part, formerly worked at Citigroup, but now runs a debt collection firm in Charleston, per the Observer scribes. Naarro’s father, Frank, has ties to the football realm, as he served as head coach at four colleges — Williams, Columbia, Walsh, and Princeton — from 1963-84.
While the price to acquire the Panthers is unknown, the last NFL team to be sold — the Bills — went for more than $1 billion. Per NFL rules, Navarro would need to be able to purchase at least 30% of the Panthers up front.
Coaching Rumors: Cowboys, Cards, Falcons
The Cowboys are expected to name Doug Nussmeier as tight ends coach, sources tell ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). Nussmeier has a lengthy resume, including stints as the offensive coordinator for Florida, Michigan, and Alabama. The former NFL backup quarterback also served as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach under Scott Linehan, the Cowboys’ current OC.
More from the coaching ranks:
- The Cardinals announced that they have promoted assistant receivers coach Kevin Garver to WR coach and inside linebackers coach Larry Foote to LB coach. The retention of Garver should be a plus for Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Jurecki of 98.7 FM tweets. The veteran is deliberating whether to play in 2018 or retire and the presence of Garver could push him towards continuing his career.
- The Falcons announced three additions to their coaching staff: running backs coach Bernie Parmalee, offensive assistant Chad Walker, and assistant special teams coach Mayur Chaudhari. Parmalee served as the Raiders’ running backs coach from 2015-17. While the running game wasn’t always great in Oakland during that time, the Raiders did average 120.1 yards on the ground in 2016, the sixth-most in the league. Parmalee is best known for his days as an NFL running back for the Dolphins and Jets.
- The Panthers hired former University of Michigan offensive graduate assistant coach Drew Terrell as an offensive quality control coach, per a team announcement. Terrell first made a name for himself as a wide receiver/punt returner at Stanford where he earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 as a returner three times.
Ex-UFC Owner Wants To Buy Panthers
- Former UFC owner Frank Fertitta is heading one of the groups looking to purchase the Panthers, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (on Twitter) hears. If Fertitta’s group winds up buying the team, he’ll have to divest his interest in Station Casinos. Fertitta was a major shareholder in Zuffa LLC, which recently sold the UFC for upwards of $4 billion.
- Despite rumblings that interim GM Marty Hurney is a shoe-in for the Panthers‘ permanent GM post, Fritz Pollard chairman John Wooten says he’s willing to allow the team’s interview process to play out before raising concerns with the NFL, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer writes. The Panthers interviewed multiple minority candidates for the position and it has been reported that Bills assistant college scouting director Lake Dawson is a strong candidate. “They have interviewed three viable candidates. I know that they had one come back again for a second interview. So that’s where they are,” Wooten said. “I think our position is we will let the process as it relates to the investigation run its course, and see what goes from there.” The Panthers are currently in a holding pattern as Hurney is under league investigation for harassment accusations raised by his ex-wife.
Examining Panthers' Defensive Backfield Options
- With a need for help in the secondary, Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer identifies Eric Reid and Lamarcus Joyner as potential upgrades for the Panthers through free agency. Reid, 26, would provide an immediate impact and some youth to Carolina’s safety corps which includes Kurt Coleman, 29, and Mike Adams, 36. Reid, a former first-round pick, had 16 tackles in 13 games with the 49ers last season. Joyner presents a veteran presence to work alongside cornerbacks Daryl Worley and James Bradberry, whom both will be entering their third year in the league, while also being able to contribute at safety where he spent nearly all of last season with the Rams.
Luke Kuechly Underwent Shoulder Surgery
Panthers All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly is recovering from shoulder surgery, a source tells the Charlotte Observer’s Joseph Person. 
The procedure was on his right shoulder, not the left one that underwent surgery in 2015 to repair a torn labrum. Kuechly was slated to appear in the Pro Bowl in January but skipped it with an unspecified injury.
Though he played in 15 of 16 games, Kuechly did appear on the injury report with a shoulder issue late in the season in the days leading up to Carolina’s tilt with Green Bay on Dec. 17, Person notes. The injury did not slow down the veteran linebacker, who recorded 125 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries en route to earning his fourth First Team All-Pro selection in the last five seasons.
There was no reported timeline for Kuechly’s recovery but the team is sure to take things slow with their valuable defensive leader. During his six-year career, Kuechly has missed 10 games with injury, all coming in the last three seasons.
Panthers Conduct Second Interview With Lake Dawson
Marty Hurney met with NFL investigator Lisa Friel on Friday as part of a league investigation into a since-withdrawn domestic violence claim made by Hurney’s ex-wife. This has affected the Panthers’ GM interview process, with Hurney — who served as interim GM last season — previously viewed as the favorite to be named full-time GM.
However, the Panthers may now be leaning toward hiring an external candidate, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter).
One of the outside candidates that went through the initial interview process, Lake Dawson, was summoned back to Charlotte for a second meeting, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports.
Dawson was one of three outside candidates interviewed for this post, joining 49ers exec Martin Mayhew and Texans player personnel VP Jimmy Raye III.
Currently the Bills’ assistant college scouting director, Dawson also interviewed for the Panthers’ GM position when it was previously open in 2013. Dave Gettleman won that race, but Dawson is firmly in the mix this time. Ron Rivera has been part of this search process as well, but the eighth-year HC wasn’t in the meeting when Dawson returned to North Carolina.
Hurney is currently on paid leave as the NFL conducts its investigation, and Person reports nothing is imminent on making this hire. Although Jerry Richardson intends to sell the Panthers, Person reports does not want to make a rash decision regarding Hurney, whom he once fired to clear the way for Gettleman.
Julius Peppers Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Panthers veteran defensive end Julius Peppers underwent surgery on his right shoulder, the player posted to his Instagram account and the team later confirmed. The procedure was a repair of his labrum, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer hears from a source (Twitter link). 
In his Instagram story, Peppers says, “Thanks everyone for the calls, texts and wishes. Everything went smooth and I’m recovering well.” He was seen at times wearing a brace on the same shoulder during the 2017 season. It is not clear at this time if the surgery has any implications on his status for the 2018 season. Set to be a free agent, Peppers has said he intends to take time before deciding on his future plans.
The injury did not slow him down in 2017. At the age of 37, he played in all 16 games and registered a team-high 11 sacks while helping Carolina earn a return to the postseason. His standout season helped him move to fourth place on the all-time sack list with 154.5. Only Bruce Smith (200), Reggie White (198) and Kevin Greene (160) have tallied more.
Though he turned 38 in January, Peppers obviously can still contribute at the NFL level and is sure to draw interest from potential playoff teams in 2018.
Latest On Panthers GM Search
Panthers interim general manger Marty Hurney will meet with NFL investigator Lisa Friel on Friday, according to David Newton of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Hurney is on paid administrative leave while the league gathers information a claim of harassment by his ex-wife. 
The harassment claim by Hurney’s ex-wife has been withdrawn in the courts, but the league continues to do its due diligence on the matter. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ GM search is effectively in a holding pattern. Before the accusations came to light, it was widely believed that Hurney was a shoe-in for the job. The feeling was that other interviews for the vacancy were being done only for compliance with the Rooney Rule, but that might not be the case.
Bills assistant college scouting director Lake Dawson received a second interview for the job and he is a strong candidate, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Dawson comes with serious credentials – he spent nine sesons with the Titans and became the team’s VP of player personnel in 2015. He spent 2016 with the Browns before becoming the Bills’ assistant director of college scouting in 2017. All in all, he has 17 years as a scout/executive under his belt.
As Pelissero notes, the Panthers are not close to offering the GM position to anyone as they deal with investigations concerning Hurney and owner Jerry Richardson. But, once the smoke clears, Dawson could be a real possibility for the post.
Two Turners Leaving Panthers
- The Panthers had become something of a family business after hiring Norv and Scott Turner earlier this year, as the club subsequently boasted four Turners on its staff. However, Norv and Scott are the only members of the family staying on board in Carolina for the 2018 campaign, however, according to Bill Voth of Panthers.com (Twitter link). Assistant quarterbacks coach Cameron Turner is joining the University of Arizona staff, while offensive consultant Ron Turner won’t be with the club (though it’s presently unclear why).