Albert Breer on Reich, Tepper, Fitterer and Ben Johnson

[Mr. Scot]

From Breer's latest mailbag...

From JP (@Lilpopester): Do you think [Lions offensive coordinator] Ben Johnson pulled out because he knew Carolina would offer him, and he saw how controlling [David] Tepper is? No chance Scott [Fitterer] and Frank [Reich] both make it to next season.

From Jason Green (@HeelofaPanther): You sure Frank keeps his job if the Panthers finish with two wins or less?

JP and Jason, I’m taking both of you at once, because I wouldn’t have even considered that Frank Reich would be in jeopardy after a single year until I saw what he said Monday about where his relationship is with Carolina owner David Tepper. Take a look.

“He wants to bring a winner to the Carolinas,” Reich said from the podium. “He wants it now. He pushes me, and pushes us, to that end. He wants to do whatever it takes, turn over every stone, churn it as much as he has to to produce winning football. So I appreciate those conversations. They’re always very challenging. He’s a super-competitive person. He’s not going to sit idly by. …

“There’s different philosophies in ownership. Some owners kind of stay away and don’t engage a whole lot. Other owners do. And his philosophy is he’s gonna engage. And, listen, it’s only been a short experience, but it’s been a really good experience. It hasn’t been fun. It’s not fun. Those meetings aren’t—I wouldn’t characterize them as fun meetings. But those meetings make me better, and I trust they make us better.”

First of all, I appreciate the honesty from Reich and a window into the unique partnerships owners have with their coaches. Second, it sounds like what I’ve heard from others who’ve worked for Tepper—he’s taken his approach to running a hedge fund into the NFL world, in keeping his thumb on those who work for him and keeping heat on everyone to perform. And Reich is correct to say there are a lot of owners who don’t operate like that (a bunch don’t even live in the cities their teams play in and aren’t around the office much).

I generally think this is a good thing. I’ve long thought it was a strength of Patriots owner Robert Kraft that he didn’t abandon his business principles (a lot of owners do) in how he runs his football operation. It took six years for Kraft to home in on that and get it right, and a lot of other successful owners have to go through that process, too, a process that Tepper is in the midst of right now.

Could Reich be collateral damage to Tepper figuring it out? I don’t think so, yet. But the fact that the coach is vocal about it means, to me, the situation down there, with an 0–5 team, is at least worth paying attention to. And by the way, no, Ben Johnson didn’t pull his name out of the Panthers’ search because he was leery of Tepper or GM Scott Fitterer. The timing simply wasn’t quite right, and Johnson had a really good situation in Detroit.

Link: What we're hearing on NFL coaching changes in trade deadline targets

[LinvilleGorge]

Is there anyone left who still want to try to pretend that Tepper isn't constantly meddling?

[Mr. Scot]

Key passage:

...it sounds like what I’ve heard from others who’ve worked for Tepper—he’s taken his approach to running a hedge fund into the NFL world, in keeping his thumb on those who work for him and keeping heat on everyone to perform. And Reich is correct to say there are a lot of owners who don’t operate like that (a bunch don’t even live in the cities their teams play in and aren’t around the office much).

I think it was Charles Robinson who previously said there were a lot of reports that Tepper was considered around the league as a difficult person to work for.

Stories like this don't exactly help that reputation.

Edited October 12, 2023 by Mr. Scot

[LinvilleGorge]

All we can do is hope that Tepper wakes up one day and looks in the mirror and realizes this isn't working and I'm the root of the problem.

[mrcompletely11]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

All we can do is hope that Tepper wakes up one day and looks in the mirror and realizes this isn't working and I'm the root of the problem.

As evidenced in the other Tepper thread there are still a few holdovers

[toldozer]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

All we can do is hope that Tepper wakes up one day and looks in the mirror and realizes this isn't working and I'm the root of the problem.

I'd say the likelihood of that is pretty damn close to zero. He made billions in a different venture.  He thinks he can do no wrong and everything he touches will turn to gold. It's a turd sandwich Dave, eat up.

[LinvilleGorge]

Just now, toldozer said:

I'd say the likelihood of that is pretty damn close to zero. He made billions in a different venture.  He thinks he can do no wrong and everything he touches will turn to gold. It's a turd sandwich Dave, eat up.

You're probably not wrong but that's the hope we have to cling to. Either that or the hope that somehow through sheer dumb luck we overcome a meddling, micromanaging owner who has proven he's pretty incompetent on matters related to the sport of football.

[B_Eazi]

 

[4Corners]

Respect to Frank Wrong for pulling some of the curtain back. 

[KSpan]

Not like we didn't aleady know this and the 'Appaloosa Model'. Tepper is really the root of the issues here. 

[therealmjl]

The only thing I took away from that is maybe we can get ben Johnson this offseason.

 Again

[toldozer]

17 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

You're probably not wrong but that's the hope we have to cling to. Either that or the hope that somehow through sheer dumb luck we overcome a meddling, micromanaging owner who has proven he's pretty incompetent on matters related to the sport of football.

I mean Jerry Jones has finally put together a decent team.  We only have to wait like 22 more years and he'll eventually make some good decisions as acting gm

[The Natural]

Keeping pressure on people to perform is entirely different from actively controlling football operations. I don't think Tepper is running our draft, FA, and calling plays. Sure, he's probably an asshole to work for but not once have I been given the impression that he's a puppet master.

[AU-panther]

I'm not saying Tepper hasn't made mistakes, but this idea of meddling is getting a bit overblown, or at the very least meddling has a vary broad meaning based on who you talk to.

Calling a coach into your office to ask why he is 0-5, and expecting better, isn't meddling, its caring and holding an employee accountable.  

Playing GM and making every pick on draft day is meddling.  Deciding every free agent pick up is meddling.  Calling plays from the owners suite is meddling.