The Carolina Panthers have played football for more than 17 seasons now. Only twice have they lost home games by 19-14, which is an odd final score that rarely comes up in football.
But after both of those games, Panthers owner and founder Jerry Richardson did something very dramatic, and in both cases things ultimately did not end well for some of those high up in the organization.
You know about the most recent one. After the Panthers lost 19-14 Sunday to Dallas, Richardson fired general manager Marty Hurney Monday morning. Hurney had been with the Panthers since 1998, had been the GM since 2002 and was as close to Richardson as anyone in the organization. But Richardson was fed up and decided he couldn't take any more, which means that everything is on the table now.
The other time? In the 1998 season opener, the Panthers lost 19-14 at home to Atlanta when a last-gasp Hail Mary pass to Rocket Ismail was nearly caught but fell incomplete in the end zone.
Richardson, according to Observer news reports at the time, convened a rare team meeting the next day in which he gave the entire squad a tongue-lashing. Richardson said then that he had spent too much money in the offseason (on forgettable players like Sean Gilbert, William Floyd, Corbin Lacina and Doug Evans, unfortunately) for the Panthers to lose like that.
As The Observer's 1998 story said, "Richardson was very upset and told the players he had spent too much money in free agency during the off-season to accept such a poor performance, said the sources, who did not want to be further identified. He vowed not to tolerate such play and specifically noted his disdain for the 98-yard touchdown drive the defense surrendered in the second quarter, the sources said. Players were startled that Richardson would rip into the team and that some players considered his comments inappropriate, the sources said."
The Falcons ultimately would go to the Super Bowl that year. The Panthers kept losing. They went 4-12. By the end of the season, coach Dom Capers had been fired, quarterback Kerry Collins was long gone and the Panthers were in disarray.
Weird, isn't it? Flash the score "19-14" in front of Richardson in a home game and the team owner is like a bull seeing a matador's red cape. Well, no, not really. It's just a coincidence. But quite a strange one.
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9 years ago
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Do not be surprised when Cam pulls a Kerry Collins and quits as well. It will happen, the only question is if it will be this year or next.
i'm imagining these big 300+ lbs lineman and 30+ year old men in a locker room: "Players were startled that Richardson would rip into the team and that some players considered his comments inappropriate, the sources said."
-Crying and being very sensitive. lol, it just makes me laugh a little.
Hurney and Fox should've been fired 5 years ago. As far as Richardson seeing "red?" Who cares! That windbag was one of the leaders in locking out the players to line his own pockets. His reputation is poor mouthing the league for going broke, and now blasting the players for their performance? Sell that to the gullible. Since this IS Carolina, there will be a lot gullible fans coming to Richardson's defense.
I thought it was all Armanti's fault.
What is the point here? I feel dumber for reading this.
No, it was Bush's fault.
Why did you have to go there, Scott? I had completely forgotten about Corbin Lacina and had almost erased Gilbert and Floyd (and his beautifully-executed fullback option pass in New Orleans that was picked off by Chad Cota, who the Saints had stolen with a poison-pill free agent contract). Wasn't Chuck Smith in that free agent spree also? You know, the guy that played 2 years in Atlanta and was an absolute bum except for the 4 games he played against us, when he got like a dozen sacks, so we signed him and he blew out his knee while signing the contract?
As for those 1998 players... Isn't it bad form to take a huge check in advance to do a job and then get all P.O.ed when the check writer rips you when you don't do the job?
We really need something good to happen around here. If this keeps up, we're going to start acting like one of our local teams is the worst in the history of its sport... Uh, never mind....
Ooo. The next two games are away at Chicago and Washington. So that likely means they'll come back home 1-7 to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos. This is going to get ugly. Wonder who gets the axe next?
You know who the Panthers could use right now? A little Clifford Franklin. Clifford Franklin is like a one man cold, 'cause Clifford Franklin's the only one catchin' it. Clifford Franklin's the only one coming down with it.
@Clifford Franklin: And bring Jumbo to help defend the QB and that wirey kicker too. Just don't let him gamble during the season.
All Jerry cares about is the bottom line...Profit!!!The firing of Marty was just for show to calm the fans. He will never do what it takes to keep The Panthers competitive on aan consistent basis.
Is that you, coach McGinty?
You don't get points for trying. Let's face it boys, we screwed the pooch Sunday.
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