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About that league investigation...

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
Posted

Not over just yet...

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While Richardson has agreed to sell the franchise for an NFL-record price of $2.2 billion to hedge fund manager David Tepper, questions remain about the pace and scope of the league’s investigation into allegations of sexual and racial misconduct by Richardson.

Asked Tuesday about the status of the independent investigation led by Mary Jo White, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said: “The matter remains under review.”

There's long been speculation that once the sale is done, the league will sweep the Richardson investigation under the rug.  According to some sources though, that may not be the case.

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Industry experts say they expect the NFL to proceed with the investigation of Richardson regardless of the sale, which is expected to be approved by the league owners next week in Atlanta.

“It can’t be brushed under the rug,” said Andrew Brandt, a former Green Bay Packers executive and the director of Villanova’s sports law program. “This is obviously a topic for the league, for the country. It’s so much in the spotlight, it can’t go away.

The NFL has faced PR disasters by being "tone deaf" in the past (the Ray Rice and Josh Brown stories come to mind).  It's believed now that they can't afford to do that again.

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“But that’s not to say we hear some one-paragraph statement somewhere down the line saying it’s been looked at and there’s no further action. That could happen, as well.

“But I would be very surprised if we heard something like that’s over simply because the timing of this (sale), which seems very unrelated.”

The league announced in December it was taking over the Panthers’ investigation after Sports Illustrated reported four former team employees received “significant” financial settlements as a result of inappropriate sexual comments and conduct by Richardson, who also reportedly directed a racial slur at a former African-American scout.

Brandt acknowledges that the NFL could certainly try to get away with burying the story, but he doesn't believe that'll happen just because the team has been sold (if at all).

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One of the employees who received a settlement from the Panthers called the investigation “a farce” last month in a series of letters she wrote for SI.

The ex-employee — who was not identified — said she was willing to cooperate with White. But the woman’s attorney was told by White that neither White nor the league could protect her if she breached her non-disclosure agreement that was part of the financial settlement she received as a result of her claims.

The woman also claims Richardson’s personal attorneys informed her lawyer that Richardson had no “intention of turning over any information of signed NDAs” to the league, and she was warned she would be in violation of the NDAs if she provided information to investigators, according to the SI report.

If the league wanted to do something about this, they could.  And there are some who think with Richardson "out of the clubhouse" they might.

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Goodell said in March he would make the findings public as soon the league received them. The league could fine the Panthers and strip them of draft picks, which were among the penalties handed down for “Bountygate” in New Orleans.

Experts say Tepper could include a provision in his contract requiring Richardson to address any post-sale liabilities.

That'd be a smart move on Tepper's part if he does that, and such a provision might be why the sale isn't finalized just yet.

And lastly, while some have thought the investigation has been overly long (a point addressed by SI) Brandt thinks it might not be so.

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Brandt, the former Packers’ vice president who writes a column for SI’s MMQB, said he’s not surprised the investigation of Richardson has dragged on for five months.

“Anyone that’s followed the NFL, whether it’s Tom Brady or Ezekiel Elliott, knows how long these things can take,” Brandt said.

NFL investigation of Richardson can't go away

Anytime this topic comes up, I'm always reminded of Jerry Richardson's extreme loyalty to the NFL; a loyalty that he probably expected to be rewarded when this investigation commenced.

That hasn't happened yet.  Still could, but probably shouldn't.

Whether the NFL truly understands that or not?  Stay tuned.

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Ja Rhule Grand Master

Ja Rhule

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1 minute ago, tondi said:

It would make no sense for the new owner to get penalized for the sins of the previous owner.  They can go after JR if they want but they need to leave the draft picks unmolested. 

Doubt they will.  They will likely settle outside the court.

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PurityControl Newbie

PurityControl

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15 minutes ago, ickmule said:

Nothing will happen.  Just watch.  

She took the money and signed a NDA 

Should of came fwd before you signed and took the cash. 

I sign these all the time in my line of work and I dare not even joke about  breaking them for fear these guys would sue and ruin me. 

 

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OneBadCat Grand Master

OneBadCat

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39 minutes ago, CatMan72 said:

If the league penalizes us for the actions of an owner who is no longer affiliated with the team that's total BS.

Yeah but I could see it happen because we're the Panthers and the league hates Cam.

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