David Tepper‘s Panthers tenure has plunged the team to its lowest point. Carolina is 0-for-6 in playoff berths under the current owner, bottoming out at 2-15 last season. Panthers fans have observed their owner play perhaps the lead role during this period. Beyond Tepper throwing a drink at a fan last season, the primary concerns about the owner have been overreach-based. Frank Reich confirmed Tepper carried considerable input into football operations last year, and Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes a number of league insiders indicate the Carolina czar has not cooled down on this front. Tepper, who has been tabbed as difficult to work for in the past, said at Dave Canales‘ introductory presser he would step back regarding personnel matters. This latest report suggests he has not done so.
From steering the Bryce Young trade to authorizing the monster Matt Rhule contract to firing Reich after 11 games, Tepper has made a mark in his early ownership years. Given how chaotic last year’s coaching setup was believed to be — due in no small part to Tepper’s role — the owner’s involvement will continue to be a central issue as the Panthers attempt to climb out of the NFL’s basement.
Here is the latest from the NFC South:
- Ryan Pace will continue to move up in the Falcons‘ front office. Fired from his Bears GM post following the 2021 season, Pace received a second promotion from the Falcons recently. The team moved him from director of pro personnel to VP of football operations/personnel. Pace last promotion took place during the 2023 offseason. Pace, 47, began his Atlanta stint as a senior personnel executive in 2022. No GM interviews have come his way since the Chicago ouster. The Falcons also promoted Hakeem Smith from assistant pro scout to pro scout and hired Cami Pasqualoni and Kevin Weisman as scouting assistants. Cami is the daughter of former Lions DC and Syracuse HC Paul Pasqualoni; she had previously worked in the Orange’s recruiting department.
- The Buccaneers are not planning to bring in a kicker to push Chase McLaughlin. Todd Bowles said (via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine) it is “a little late for competition.” McLaughlin has missed two kicks during the preseason. Any type of competition might be a bit rash as well, seeing as the sixth-year specialist made 93.5% of his field goal tries (29 of 31) and all 33 of his extra points last season. This included 7-for-8 from 50-plus yards. The Bucs also re-signed McLaughlin on a three-year, $12.3MM deal in March. The kicker’s 2024 and ’25 base salaries are guaranteed.
- Justin Simmons‘ New Orleans visit effectively alerted the football world the Saints were not satisfied with the safety position alongside Tyrann Mathieu. Dennis Allen confirmed that recently, indicating no one has seized the job yet. Jordan Howden started in place of the since-cut Marcus Maye during the latter’s injury- and suspension-driven absences last season, but the Saints also re-signed former first-rounder-turned-nomad Johnathan Abram. The team has given Abram and recently added DB Will Harris starting nods, respectively, in its two preseason games. Simmons signed a one-year, $7.5MM deal with the Falcons following a multi-day visit.
Pace keeps getting promoted. That explains a lot of the stupid things the Falcons do now. Got it.
As long as they don’t let him trade draft picks.
Didn’t they just literally trade one for a 32 year old with no extension in place? The Prosecution rests.
The buck doesn’t stop with him. It’s not like that was his choice to make.
Uh he just got promoted to VP of Football operations/Player Personnel so sorry, But it absolutely was his choice to make. Because if it wasn’t, Then the title doesn’t mean much then.
That person is still working under the GM.
That means Carter Hawkins tells Jed Hoyer what to do. I’ve been ranting at the wrong guy.
Jed Hoyer outranks Hawkins. You’re talking about different titles and structures.
What are you talking about? Jed Hoyer is PRESIDENT of Baseball operations. Therefore the next man up would be VP of Baseball operations, Then GM. Ryan Pace is SUPPOSED to be VP of FOOTBALL OPERATIONS. If you’re telling me he reports to the GM, Then I guess we have further proof that the Falcons whole Front Office structure is completely bungled and inept. Because that’s just Batcrap nuts.
I think you’re getting too hung up on the words in titles. You can even look at the Cubs front office directory to see that Hawkins is under Hoyer, but people with VP titles are under Hawkins. These VP titles relate to specific departments. All those departments answer to the top of the chain.
Maybe. I don’t pretend to know anything about the Falcons FO tree. But I do know the people you’re talking about with the Cubs are VP’s of scouting, Minor Leagues and player personnel that SHOULD be under the GM on a team that made sense. Hawkins is as much of a GM on the Cubs as I am. He has to ask Hoyer for permission to sharpen a pencil. That’s the way Hoyer wants it. What the Cubs really need is for Hoyer to be the POBO and get a GM to BE the GM because he’s bad at it. He’s a fine organizer and hirer of talent because they keep losing guys to other teams and he keeps finding quality replacements. No idea who does what for the Falcons but it seems like a backwards way to set it up.
What I do know is that if Pace is involved in any of it, You’re not gonna like how it ends.
Again, you’re getting caught up in titles that can mean different things in different places. The Mets’ president is a GM who got a title and a raise, but is still ultimately in charge of the roster. The Pirates have a president who operates the organization, but the GM is in charge of the roster. That’s more like the Bears, who have a GM who controls the roster and a president who has a bigger picture view. Having vice president in your title doesn’t mean you outrank the GM when it comes to personnel moves. Caserio was director of personnel for the Patriots, but he didn’t outrank Belichick.
Like I said I have no idea who tells who what to do in Atlanta. The only thing I know for sure is Pace is a moron.
Kind of an odd and random place for a David Tepper “horrible NFL owner” story.
Wonder what he sold.
Mark Davis has a longer record of ineptitude and should demand equal coverage.
Ryan Pace and Terry Fontenot. What could go wrong?
A lot.
The Bears will forever be thankful to David Tepper for Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, Tory Taylor and another guy in the early 2nd round next year. I hope Ole Dave stays involved in Player Personnel decisions for awhile as he traded all that for a QB who he drafted at #1 who got outplayed by the 2nd pick. Well done.