Tepper buys Panthers pending NFL approval
Johnson takes more shots of Pat’s arrogance
NEW YORK, May 16, (RTRS): David Tepper and the Carolina Panthers announced an agreement in principle is in place to transition ownership from franchise founder Jerry Richardson pending NFL approval.
Tepper will reportedly pay between $2.2 billion and $2.3 billion for the Panthers, an expansion franchise in 1995. Other bidders conceded Tuesday to Tepper’s final bid, which is well above the NFL-record $1.4 billion sale of the Buffalo Bills in 2014.
“I am thrilled to have been selected to be the next owner of the Carolina Panthers,” Tepper said in a joint statement distributed by the Panthers on Wednesday morning. “I have learned a great deal about the community and the team over the past several months and look forward to becoming part of the Carolinas. I want to thank Jerry Richardson and the Panthers’ partners for all they have done to establish and develop the NFL in the Carolinas. It has been a remarkable 25-year journey and I promise to build upon the Panthers’ success on the field and in the community.”
Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson hasn’t been shy about criticizing the New England Patriots, and he elaborated on what spurred many of those comments on a Steve Austin podcast published Tuesday.
“Here’s what pissed me off,” Johnson said when asked about his previous comments. “The Patriots, obviously, I respect their coach, I respect Bill, I respect Tom Brady.
But just because the way that they won the Super Bowls, the Patriot Way, is that how everybody else is supposed to do the same thing? No, it’s not. And that’s what I got mad at, the arrogance by them.
Los Angeles Chargers guard Forrest Lamp is recovering from a “little clean up” procedure on his knee this offseason, according to NFL Network, as he continues his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last fall.
“It was nothing major,” head coach Anthony Lynn told NFL Network of Lamp’s surgery. “He’s progressing along just fine.”
The ex-girlfriend of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster plans to testify Thursday that she initially lied to police and that Foster did not hit her on Feb 11, her attorney told the Sacramento Bee.
The woman, Elissa Ennis, originally told police Foster hit her in the head eight to 10 times, causing facial bruises and a ruptured eardrum. Ennis has since recanted that statement, saying through her attorney, Stephanie Rickard, that her injuries were suffered in a fight with another woman and that she accused Foster because he threatened to break up with her.
The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with first-round pick Rashaan Evans, the team announced Tuesday.
Per league rules, Evans’ rookie deal is for four years with the Titans holding a fifth-year option.
The team did not reveal the specific money involved, though based upon the rookie salary slotting structure, the former Alabama linebacker is due to earn $11.7 million overall with a $6.59 million signing bonus, Forbes projects.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end and Super Bowl hero Brandon Graham is reportedly recovering from surgery on his right ankle which could force him to miss the team’s spring workout program.
Although the 30-year-old Graham is expected to report for the start of the Eagles’ organized team activities on Monday, ESPN, citing sources, reports that the eight-year veteran underwent the procedure – which supposedly helps with healing for high ankle sprains – on May 1 and is wearing a protective boot. According to the report, the team’s goal is to have Graham ready for training camp in July, meaning he could be sidelined for both OTAs and minicamp.