Two weeks into the common season is a time for overreactions. Broad, sweeping statements about who sucks, who’s elite — each on a macro degree about groups, and the micro relating to gamers. Reality be advised, we nonetheless don’t know loads in regards to the 2024 NFL season, and but one factor feels inevitable, previous saving.
The Carolina Panthers.
It didn’t take a full house recreation, and even half, or perhaps a quarter. The Panthers as followers knew them died way back. The eulogy didn’t are available sweeping prose, however as $1.80 seats offered on the secondary market by season ticket holders who couldn’t endure the group anymore. The Panthers at the moment are given as a lot time and a focus as a toddler’s once-beloved toy they aged out of, tossed on a 50 cent desk at a yard sale. A reminder that all of us outgrow the issues we as soon as cherished after they not carry us pleasure, and that each relationship, regardless of how significant, will be pushed previous its restrict by neglect.
The group, like all NFL groups, strikes in ebbs and flows. The hovering pleasure of start with Kerry Collins, solely to see the Penn State man-toddler who determined to stop soccer after being caught making racist remarks. The bridge years of Steve Beuerlein, restoring religion (albeit briefly) earlier than it was whisked away as soon as extra, vanishing as shortly as Chris Weinke’s hairline. A determined, flailing franchise, in 2003 followers lastly had one thing to actually be happy with when Jake Delhomme arrived in Charlotte to show us all the way to actually love NFL soccer for the primary time.
Delhomme wasn’t good, removed from it. He’d lock onto his first learn, at occasions he’d fail to spot Steve Smith sprinting alongside the sideline with 10 yards of daylight behind him. There have been no tight spirals, lofted via the air with a flick of the wrist, however fairly 30 passes a recreation of bizarre, off-axis throws that didn’t appear to be they need to work, however one way or the other did. Nothing was fairly when it got here to Jake, however dammit if he didn’t drag everybody alongside to victory, kicking and screaming whether or not they favored it or not.
It was throughout this period “Hold Pounding” was born. By no means has a phrase that sounds so hilarious in isolation meant a lot to a group, to a fanbase, to the ethos of what it meant to be a Panthers fan. It served each as inspiration by no means to stop on the sphere, however way more importantly to indicate grit and willpower off of it. Legendary linebacker Sam Mills (serving at linebacker coach on the time) coined the phrase in 2004 forward of the Panthers’ first playoff recreation in seven years. Mills was battling intestinal most cancers, recognized shortly earlier than the season started — and it wasn’t lengthy after that outsider linebacker Mark Fields advised his teammates he’d be lacking the 2003 season after being recognized with Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Mills stood within the Panthers locker room and begged the lads he coached to maintain combating. To by no means stop so long as there was a shred of hope, as a result of he promised them he’d hold pounding for so long as he presumably might. Mills saved pounding till the top, when he died surrounded by his household simply 14 months after his now-legendary speech.
Followers endured the ache of dropping the Tremendous Bowl that yr, however they by no means stopped pounding. At all times able to return the following fall with a renewed sense of vigor and willpower. Hope ran everlasting that any yr might be our yr, as a result of Delhomme and the 2003 Panthers confirmed us it was potential. That period ran its course with out rather more success. Two extra double-digit successful seasons and playoff runs, however no trophy to indicate for it.
It was now 2010, and it’s right here a lot of my story begins. That is after I started writing in regards to the Panthers over at Cat Scratch Reader, SB Nation’s Panthers weblog. It’s really inconceivable to articulate how ugly that season was. It was got here throughout a rebuilding interval, not totally dissimilar to the one Carolina finds itself in now. Week after week we’d watch because the Panthers have been demolished in a cloud of Jimmy Clausen’s platinum blonde ineptitude. For the primary time in six years we had a fanbase that didn’t really feel prefer it might Hold Pounding anymore. It was prepared to surrender the combat.
Throughout these darkish days I picked the nice out of each week, meager crumbs that they have been, writing a weekly Monday morning column with the categorical function of attempting to select the nice out of no matter rubbish we endured the day earlier than. The Morning Morning Optimist remains to be alive on CSR, the torch being handed and “Hold Pounding” nonetheless echoing via our fanbase.
Then Cam Newton occurred. A lightning strike of brilliance that captured the creativeness like nothing that got here earlier than him, or has since. A unicorn athlete who performed with reckless abandon, equally cherished by Panthers followers as a lot as he was reviled by the remainder of the league. Carolina had essentially the most dynamic, most fun participant in the whole NFL for the primary time within the historical past of the group, and it was a dream. The disgrace about goals is that they’re usually fleeting, and Newton’s period was far too quick. Accidents mounted, the roster aged round him, and the top outcome was an period that was far too temporary. Nonetheless, Newton’s gentle shone brighter than anybody who proceeded him, and burnt out simply as quick.
After all, that is what was taking place on the sphere. Off it was one other story for the Carolina Panthers. Whereas Newton was main one other playoff cost in 2017 a narrative emerged that proprietor Jerry Richardson, patriarch of the Panthers, sexually harassed girls employed by the group. It was clear the group wanted to show the web page, to get new blood on the prime — and Richardson agreed to promote the group and transfer on.
The thrill for brand new possession was palpable. Somebody who might modernize the group’s soccer operations and cease treating it like a small, family-owned enterprise. Rumors swirled of Jay-Z shopping for the group, Jeff Bezos, a who’s-who of massive title billionaires. Quickly it turned clear that every one roads have been resulting in David Tepper, a minority proprietor of the Steelers who appeared effective on first look, however scratch beneath the floor and it was far uglier. Sadly, I noticed these tea leaves taking form when Tepper was solely a finalist to purchase the group. I pleaded, a person screaming into the void of inevitability, that the group I cherished wouldn’t be bought by David Tepper — however to no avail.
Of all of the horrible traits an proprietor can have, considering they’re a soccer genius tops the checklist. Being a minority proprietor of the Steelers had Tepper really consider he was one way or the other liable for the success Pittsburgh had on the sphere. It was his mission to realize the identical in Charlotte, and put his stamp on the group he’d simply purchased. Reality be advised, it’s right here the place issues acquired truly painful as a Panthers far for the primary time in historical past. If 1995 to 2017 have been marked by typical fan frustration, 2018-present have been drenched inWen despair. So let’s simply run down Tepper’s biggest hits:
- Fired Ron Rivera for a 5-7 begin to the season, predominantly so he might rent “his man”
- Hand-picked Matt Rhule to be his first teaching rent and gave an unproven school coach management of an NFL roster
- Oversaw Newton getting run out of city and changed him with a revolving door of ineptitude at quarterback
- Churned via three head coaches in 5 years, when previous to Tepper the Panthers had had three head coaches in 19 YEARS.
- Routinely known as his personal pictures on the draft, superseding the recommendation of his soccer workers
That’s simply the soccer facet of issues. It could take a complete different story to debate shady enterprise practices with town of Rock Hill, South Carolina over a brand new observe facility, transferring coaching camp out of Spartanburg, the place it had been for the reason that group’s inception, and strong-arming native authorities over stadium financing.
Now we’re closing in on the state of the Panthers proper now, and extra particularly Bryce Younger, who’s the brand new sizzling scapegoat for every little thing unsuitable with David Tepper’s dumpster fireplace. Revisionist historical past has plagued Younger from the second he confirmed indicators of wrestle beneath Frank Reich, one other horrific teaching rent by Tepper.
Overlook that Younger was the lock No. 1 decide all yr lengthy, a 47-touchdown-throwing Heisman QB that thrived in Alabama’s professional fashion system throughout a time the place Nick Saban’s group was retooling itself. Main as much as the 2023 NFL Draft Younger was nonetheless everybody’s No. 1 decide, and on draft night time there have been no claims Carolina had made the unsuitable decide. Curiously this modified by Week 4 of the 2023 season, and all of a sudden there have been hundreds of social media geniuses who “knew he’d be rubbish.”
Did Younger, who had a soccer profession plagued by successful, huge numbers, and excessive reward all of a sudden attain the NFL and overlook the way to play soccer, or was he simply one other sufferer of a franchise that had grow to be a black gap for expertise and potential?
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I would like nothing greater than for Bryce Younger to succeed. Not for egocentric causes as a fan, or the very fact it makes life simpler — however that by all accounts he’s only a very nice man. Younger doesn’t have Clausen’s entitlement points, or any off-field cause to dislike him. He didn’t requested to be born smaller than most NFL quarterbacks, and lord is aware of he didn’t ask to be drafted by the Panthers.
At this level I don’t know if he will be redeemed. Bryce might need at all times been small, nevertheless it wasn’t till this yr that he began enjoying small. Somebody had occurred on this newest shift to one more head coach in Dave Canales that has Younger uncomfortable within the pocket, bounce passing when he doesn’t have to, lacking passes the threaded with ease a yr in the past, and customarily wanting unhealthy. His mechanics have gone to shit, the Panthers is perhaps the worst group we’ve seen in over a decade, and there’s no hope on the horizon.
Greater than all that: The guts has been ripped from the fanbase. “Hold Pounding” is gone, current solely as a advertising slogan printed on a jersey collar. It’s one factor to ask followers to push via adversity, however when that adversity has lasted Tepper’s complete possession reign it’s dragged them down and damaged them. When a house opener is a cacophony of boos, low cost offered tickets, and a sea of justified frustration two weeks into the season it’s an indication that folks have checked out. No person talks in regards to the Panthers day-to-day anymore. They’re merely a recognized, accepted disappointment all of us endure, the problematic member of the family we nonetheless love, however understand it’s simply not wholesome to be round anymore.
Hope used to spring everlasting in these components. Ardour ran over. Folks have been engaged, and speaking. Discussing wanted roster enhancements, guys have been we proud of, hashing out future adjustments that might get the Panthers over the hump.
Now it’s been changed with apathy. The one emotion you’ll hear is anger directed at David Tepper for taking our jewel and smashing it together with his ego and ineptitude. There’s no gentle on the finish of the tunnel. Seemingly no method out for years. An NFL group will nonetheless exist in Charlotte, taking the sphere each fall Sunday — and positive, in time they may truly win once more.
The Panthers as we knew them? They’re gone, and by no means coming again. A weekly reminder that no quantity of consideration, or love, or care can cease idiots in energy from ruining one thing you really liked a lot. The 2024 season was purported to be the thirtieth anniversary of the Carolina Panthers, however they didn’t reside lengthy sufficient to see their birthday, probably not.
Relaxation in peace, Carolina Panthers. You have been as soon as stunning, and also you have been ours. Now we don’t acknowledge you anymore.
Explanation for demise: David Tepper.
