Owners OK Tepper’s Panthers purchase
The new owner of the Carolina Panthers is committed to keeping the team in the Carolinas. And Charlotte is his clearly his first choice.
But David Tepper left a bit of wiggle room on his first day as owner of the team.
The NFL unanimously approved Tepper’s $2.2 billion purchase of the team from Jerry Richardson on Tuesday, leading to immediate questions about the new owner’s thoughts on replacing 22-year-old Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
“What’s the name of the team? Carolina Panthers. It’s going to be the Carolina Panthers,” Tepper said. “That means this team has to have some kind of presence in the Carolinas and last time I saw, how many are there? That’s right, there’s two of them.”
Tepper seemed to be implying that he might consider other cities in North and South Carolina if efforts to build a new stadium in Charlotte fall through. The lease at Bank of America runs for only one more season.
Tepper also reiterated several times that the largest city in the Carolinas is the best place for the team.
“There is a logical place for this team, and it’s Charlotte,” he said.
Helmet-hit rule passes: The NFL has passed a new rule for this season that says any player who initiates contact with his helmet is subject to ejection after an in-game video review that will be decided in New York.
Al Riveron, the league’s head of officiating, said a foul can be called regardless of where on the body — not just the head or neck area — that one player hits another with his helmet.
“This is about eliminating unnecessary use of the helmet,” Riveron said Tuesday at the NFL spring meetings.
If a player is ejected, Riveron and his staff in New York will use network camera angles to determine if the ejection is necessary.
Eagles: Released starting linebacker Mychal Kendricks after six seasons with the team. The cost-cutting move came after linebacker Paul Worrilow went down with a knee injury on the first day of organized team activities. Kendricks was due to earn $5.85 million in base salary this year with a $7.6 million cap hit.
Jets-Raiders: New York traded quarterback Christian Hackenberg to Oakland for a conditional seventh-round draft pick next year, ending the 2016 second-round pick’s tenure with the Jets before he took a regular-season snap.
Chiefs: Tight end Demetrius Harris was suspended one game without pay by the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy.
ODDS AND ENDS
MLB: The Mariners’ Dee Gordon has joined Robinson Cano on the disabled list, just after taking over from the All-Star at second base. Seattle said Gordon hurt his right big toe on May 9 and reinjured it Sunday.
■ The Mets signed free agent Jose Bautista, getting the former home run champion two days after he was cut by the Braves. New York listed Bautista as an outfielder. He played only third base in his short stint with Atlanta.
Cycling: Simon Yates is still in control of the Giro d’Italia after the British rider limited his losses to closest rival Tom Dumoulin in the individual time trial. Yates leads Dumoulin by 56 seconds heading into the final five stages of the event.
NHL: The Islanders hired Lou Lamoriello, 75, as president of hockey operations. Son Chris Lamoriello has been the team’s assistant GM since 2016.
Soccer: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has discarded plans to seek approval for a $25 billion overhaul of competitions before the World Cup amid resistance from UEFA.