What happens from here

[Mr. Scot]

With everything that's out there now, a full-on house cleaning is probably...no, definitely...the only viable option.

Here's what I can tell you about that based on what I've seen from previous teams over the years...

COACHING

Obviously, we were already getting a new head coach. Will that new head coach be somebody that's currently on staff? I suppose that's possible, but it's kind of hard to imagine given the level of dysfunction we've seen this year.

As far as coaching assistants, you can expect a new head coach will want to hire his own staff without interference or suggestions from ownership or the front office. In truth, that's pretty normal for most NFL teams, but wasn't for us this past offseason.

Is there a chance Evero and the guys on the defensive side of the ball stay? Yes, but I don't know how much of one. It's still possible, even if unlikely, that Evero gets a shot at a head coaching gig. Even if he doesn't though, a better opportunity than working for the version of the Panthers organization that he experienced this season could very easily present itself. And of course, it's entirely conceivable that the new head coach might just prefer somebody else.

FRONT OFFICE

On the management side, regardless of anyone's (including David Tepper's) opinion on Scott Fitterer, it's necessary at this point to install a new GM. No head coach is going to want to work for a GM who's been reported to have gone to the owner about the prior head coach behind his back. That's way too toxic and atmosphere to ask anyone to accept.

What about Dan Morgan and the rest of the personnel people? Good chance they could stay through at least this year's draft because it's pretty tough to build a complete front office that quick. Once the draft and the bulk of free agency are over though, it's be no surprise for a lot of them to be gone as well in favor of who the new GM wants to have in place.

TIMELINE

So coaching staff turnover will most likely be complete before the draft, by the summer at the latest. Front office turnover should at the very least begin later in the year, but could quite easily stretch into next year also.

It's relatively rare for coaching staffs, but not unusual for front offices to be partially rebuilt over more than one season. There's less immediacy in that sort of thing. Heck, even under Fitterer not everything changed at once. Some guys will likely be given a chance to stay and prove themselves, and either they will or they won't (similar to what happened here with Pat Stewart).

WHOS IN CHARGE?

And the question on a lot of people's minds, will there be a "team president" or "chief consultant" helping make the decisions?

On that front, your guess is as good as mine.

I know there are some who want a Jim Harbaugh / Bill Belichick type to run everything. I don't, and after the experience with Matt Rhule I'm not sure David Tepper will either. Also have to wonder just how much a guy like that would put up with Tepper (or vice versa).

If there is a team president, my long-standing preference would be that the job go to Kevin Colbert. He's got an impeccable resumé as a team builder, and perhaps more to the point he's well known to David Tepper. There were rumors a few years ago that Tepper was going to try and lure him to Carolina as GM. Whether or not he's still an option in that role or some other form is hard to say, but we can hope.

Barring the hiring of a "football czar" though, my current choices for our top jobs would be Brandon Hunt at GM and Frank Smith as head coach.

Hunt was reported to be Colbert's heir apparent in Pittsburgh before they interviewed everybody under the sun (including Dan Morgan) and finally settled on giving the job to Omar Khan. Hunt left for a role with the Eagles shortly thereafter, but he's known to both Colbert and Tepper. Experience with two strong organizations certainly doesn't hurt either.

As far as Smith, he certainly has experience working with an undersized quarterback and has a lot of buzz as a future head coach going for him. Mind you, I don't know of any  connection between Smith and Hunt so if Hunt had someone else in mind (perhaps from the Steelers or the Eagles) they might have a better shot. I would like to think Smith would at least get an interview though.

Ben Johnson? I'd like him a lot, but knowing now that people with the team (probably Duce Staley, maybe also Shawn Jefferson as someone else pointed out) have warned him about the Panthers, it's kind of hard to imagine. That is, unless his desire to come back home and coach the team he watched as a kid is stronger than those other factors.

Some have suggested that he might come here if he gets to choose his own GM, but nothing I've read about Johnson makes me think he's that sort of coach. Nor do I know at this time of any particular connection he has with a personnel type in Detroit or elsewhere. He came to the Lions based on connection with Dan Campbell, not anyone in the front office.

BOTTOM LINE

It probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway...

No matter what else happens - who gets hired, who gets fired, whatever - the most key thing that has to happen is still that David Tepper needs to remove himself from the football operations.

If that doesn't occur, pretty good chance that none of the other moves make any difference.

[Daeavorn]

Everything hinges on how Tepper handles this next head coaching search. All the dirty laundry is fully available and people now know exactly how much of a meddler he is.

This is going to be interesting.

[Waldo]

Knowing Tepper he doubles down and fails again next year. I haven't seen any signs yet that he is capable of stumbling over competency. Or will allow it to flourish near his toxic management style. 

Maybe after that he will deal with his ego and try this entire thing in a competent way. I just wish he had another toy to play with so he would take his focus off of this one. 

[thennek]

Whatever Tepper does it should be the opposite of what he really wants to do. Every decision he has made has been wrong so therefore the opposite would have to be good. 

[Mr. Scot]

9 minutes ago, Daeavorn said:

Everything hinges on how Tepper handles this next head coaching search. All the dirty laundry is fully available and people now know exactly how much of a meddler he is.

This is going to be interesting.

He needs to "handle it" by keeping his ass out of it.

[Mr. Scot]

6 minutes ago, Waldo said:

Knowing Tepper he doubles down and fails again next year. I haven't seen any signs yet that he is capable of stumbling over competency. Or will allow it to flourish near his toxic management style. 

Maybe after that he will deal with his ego and try this entire thing in a competent way. I just wish he had another toy to play with so he would take his focus off of this one. 

You know he's gotta be absolutely nuclear level pissed over this story being out there.

[Mr. Scot]

Didn't talk about the player level because that's really subject to who the coach is...

But DJ Chark and Brad Bozeman were both quoted in Person and Russini's article. Bozeman specifically confirmed the long-held speculation that the blocking scheme were using doesn't fit his style, as well as that of others.

I like Bozeman a lot and what's happened this year isn't his fault, but I have to wonder if he hasn't just written his ticket out of Carolina.

Chark probably doesn't give a sh-t. Pretty sure he was on a one-year contract anyway.

[Gapanthersfan]

Any addition, subtraction or substation is just window dressing unless Tep takes a crash course on NFL proficiency, or allows football people to run the show. 

[Mr. Scot]

7 minutes ago, Gapanthersfan said:

Any addition, subtraction or substation is just window dressing unless Tep takes a crash course on NFL proficiency, or allows football people to run the show. 

I'll take Option B

[Mr. Scot]

From today...

Guess we might be saying goodbye to Chuba Hubbard as well

[CRA]

Only sensible option would be for me to run the team from the huddle message board as a GM/HC. 

Day 1 - I'm trading for every Clemson Tiger in the league.  No matter the cost.  That's right folks, Trevor Lawerence is coming to town. 

Day 2 - I will add one Gamecock to keep that masses from being able to claim I only sought Clemson players.   Clearly, that couldn't be true if I bring Captain Munnerlyn out of retirement to be my 5th string DB.  Don't question the move, keep in mind I had to get Trevor Lawerence and company so my resources are slim.  And yes, yes, NC,  I will represent your teams by adding 1 player from UNC.  It will be whoever the random player is that you moan about shouldn't even make the league.  Well, he shouldn't but resources are slim and I'll have to pay a lot of guys the league min.  But that's it from NC. 

Day 3 - unlike prior admins, I will embrace the Keep Pounding motto like no one has ever done.   I'll wear it on my gameday shirt.  I will often ask people why they hate Sam Mills as my response to any questioning of decisions I make if I happen to be wearing said shirt.  FYI - I will always wear my Keep Pounding merch.  

Draft - Huddle poll.  Boom.  If CFP has a committee that decides championships that often include random people like politicians, sports writers and the likes.....well, why not you!  The good people!

Gameday - I'm new age.  Forward thinking.  A different breed.  I'm like the Miami HC but even crazier.  I'm bringing my recliner and case of beer to the sideline.  By the 4th quarter and 10 beers in I should be at my peak of gameday management.  I'll be calling all sorts of creative stuff. 

Press Conferences - I ain't got time for that.  I'll need to here on the huddle complaining about the Panthers

 

[Billy Love]

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

You know he's gotta be absolutely nuclear level pissed over this story being out there.

yes. but now that it's out, he has to deal with it by cleaning house.

[Waldo]

2 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

You know he's gotta be absolutely nuclear level pissed over this story being out there.

Him being angry is the new standard. I have no idea what it's going to take to make him turn the corner but I sure would love to see it.

[Mr. Scot]

1 hour ago, Billy Love said:

yes. but now that it's out, he has to deal with it by cleaning house.

No argument... Just don't go back and rebuild the same damn house.