A little over a week after Frank Reich’s sacking, the Panthers’ organization has taken a crippling blow from a recent report by The Athletic.
Sources with Carolina depicted a “Hunger Games” culture within the franchise, one that featured none of the hit series’ merciless violence but did include several instances of back-stabbing, according to Joseph Person and Dianna Russini.
“Team sources described a “Hunger Games” culture at Bank of America Stadium. Coaches said they believed other staff members were text messaging Tepper behind Reich’s back about issues they saw with the team,” said The Athletic report. “In one instance, general manager Scott Fitterer and an offensive coach went to Tepper with a coaching suggestion for the quarterback.”
One anonymous Panthers assistant added that people in the building were “just finger-pointing hoping they don’t get exposed."
Photo Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
Wide receiver DJ Chark also gave his two cents, saying “I can honestly say I don’t think (Reich) was the sole problem and everything is fixed now. We’ve still got a lot of stuff we have to fix.”
Panthers owner David Tepper’s position in the organization has been put under a microscope in the aftermath of Reich’s firing and amid the team’s ongoing struggles during No. 1 pick Bryce Young’s first season. The rookie quarterback has led Carolina to just one win with a league-worst record (1—11) at the bottom of the NFC South.
Reich, fired 11 weeks into his coaching tenure, may have been painted as the scapegoat for Carolina’s season woes. However, this latest critical assessment of the Panthers’ seemingly toxic culture keeps his reputation more or less intact.
As for the future of the team, will Young be able to overcome the Panthers' in-house obstacles to develop into a reliable starter under center? May the odds be ever in his favor.
