Forward vs. Chargers
intercepted.
The Jets would be wise to utilize Petty’s most tantalizing attribute this weekend against the Chargers.
Bowles, who said he’s “not right now” considering playing Christian Hackenberg in the final two games of 2017, wants to see more patience from Petty.
“He knows where to go with the ball. He’s confident in going there,”" Bowles said. “He just doesn’t need to be in such a hurry to do it. He just needs to relax and let it happen.”
KERLEY WAIVED
The Jets waived wide receiver and punt returner Jeremy Kerley on Monday.
Kerley returned from his four-game PED suspension last week, but the Jets used an exemption on him to delay a roster decision until this week. The exemption expired at 4 p.m. Monday. With Hansen emerging and JoJo Natson performing serviceably as the punt returner, the Jets had the depth to move on from Kerley . . . . Defensive lineman Leonard Williams is in the concussion protocol, according to Bowles.
JERRY Richardson, a sleazy and creepy dirty old man, is running pretty fast for an 81-year old with a heart transplant. He is desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the indignity of having his franchise taken away like the NBA did with Donald Sterling. All this is fairly transparent. He suspended himself as owner of the Carolina Panthers before Roger Goodell had the chance and is throwing himself out of the NFL before Goodell can toss him to the curb.
Hours after Sports Illustrated’s detailed account Sunday of Richardson’s inappropriate workplace behavior, including sexually suggestive comments to women and a racial comment to a scout, Richardson announced he’s selling his 48% controlling stake in the Panthers.
But in his five-paragraph statement about the sale, Richardson made no mention of his sordid behavior and of- fered no apology. The SI report said Richardson has paid significant money to four former employees to make these issues go away.
Then on Monday, the Panthers announced in a press release that Tina Becker was named chief operating officer with full control of day-to-day management. Good political move under the circumstances for the Panthers to promote Becker to among the highest ranking women executives in NFL history.
Her most recent title was Executive Director — Owner’s Office. She worked her way up through the organization from being in charge of the cheerleaders when she joined the organization in 1999 to directing the team’s business and administrative policies.
But in the press release, the Panthers said nothing about her replacing Richardson. Not a word about Richardson stepping aside.
Richardson was the co-chair of the commissioner search committee in 2006 that resulted in Goodell being voted in on the fifth ballot. Goodell and Richardson are very close, but I think once the story broke on Sunday he gave Richardson 24 hours to figure out an exit plan.
In the current climate in this country, there was no way Richardson was going to survive his indiscretions. He should not be treated any differently by the NFL than the NFL Network’s Marshall Faulk, Heath Evans and Ike Taylor, who were immediately suspended last week and taken off the air pending an investigation of inappropriate behavior after they were named in a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former network wardrobe stylist.
In fact, Richardson, as an owner, should be held to even higher standards.
Richardson was granted the expansion Panthers franchise in 1993 and they began play in 1995. He is bailing out with the hope he can short-circuit and/or provide cover from the league’s investigation. Goodell must follow through on the investigation and be transparent.
No matter what you think of Goodell, he is ruthless dealing with his closest friends in the league. In the last three years, he alienated Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones, two of his confidantes, with investigations that resulted in the lengthy suspensions of Tom Brady and Zeke Elliott. He is not afraid to take on the big guys.
The surprising thing about the Richardson case and the NFL Network suspensions is it took this long for the nationwide epidemic of inappropriate workplace behavior to include the NFL. Why would anybody think the league would be immune to Harvey Weinstein-itis when it has brought down a senator and judge and movie producer and morning TV host and actors, among way too many others?
The NFL is a male-dominated high-profile business with rich men in power. Isn’t that the perfect recipe for inappropriate behavior? Richardson clearly abused his power. Friday was “Jeans Day” in the Panthers offices and Richardson used the casual dress to comment on the appearance of the women he employed. Richardson is a big man who surely is an imposing and intimidating figure to his employees.
All his employees called him Mister. That’s it. Mister. Oh, please.
According to SI, some of his “Jeans Day” comments to the women:
“Show me how you wiggle to get those jeans up.”
“I bet you had to lay down on your bed to fit into those jeans.”
“Did you step into those jeans or did you have to jump into them.” Wait, unfortunately there’s more. He once invited a female employee to his suite and he showed up barefoot asking for a foot massage. He asked women if he could personally shave their legs. And he had what was termed “a seatbelt maneuver,” when he would insist on fastening the seatbelt after opening the car door so he could brush across a woman’s breasts. hy would a married older man perceived as a respected Southern gentleman who is just the second former NFL player to own a team — George Halas was the first — and who was given a second chance at life after the gift of a new heart eight years ago, possibly think this was okay?
There is a statue of Richardson outside the stadium. There is concern in Charlotte that in June of 2019 a new owner could move the Panthers when an agreement binding them to the city expires.
The team should remain. Richardson and the statue need to go.
W