Tidbits from Joe Person in The Athletic

[Mr. Scot]

Not a whole lot of new info, but some "fill in the blanks" type things from Joe...

Excerpts:

Big names absent from the Panthers’ list

Tepper has always been one who enjoyed taking the big swings, from jumping into the Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson sweepstakes to interviewing Sean Payton for the head-coaching vacancy last year before Frank Reich was hired. So it’s been a bit unusual to see the Atlanta Falcons, the Panthers’ division rivals, connected to Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh while the Panthers have — at least to this point — sat idly by.

...

In the wake of Rhule’s firing, Tepper said he’d made a mistake in hiring a “CEO-type head coach.”... Some who know Tepper believe he would be reluctant to give the 71-year-old Belichick full roster control, which he had in New England.

...

As for Harbaugh, who has a quirky personality but a winning track record, it just seems like he and Tepper would be strange bedfellows.

...

Where things stand with Ben Johnson

It’s a big weekend for in-demand Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has virtual interviews scheduled with four of the six teams that want to talk to him — followed by the Lions’ divisional playoff game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I’m hearing Johnson is scheduled to meet with the Panthers and Washington Commanders on Friday, before interviewing with the L.A. Chargers and Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.

Johnson is still believed to be Tepper’s top target, as he was last year before the North Carolina native and former UNC quarterback withdrew from consideration. The 37-year-old Johnson, who went to high school in Asheville, has done little to hurt his candidacy in the year since, overseeing an innovative offense that finished in the top five in the league in both yards (394.8 per game) and points (27.1).

...

Brown out in Charlotte?

Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was in Chicago on Wednesday interviewing for the same position with the Bears’ staff, which would seem to indicate he won’t be in Charlotte next season. 

...

With seven of the Panthers’ head coach candidates coming from an offensive background, it makes sense Tepper would let Brown explore other opportunities.

...

It was a tough year for Brown, the former Rams assistant who was given play-calling duties in October only to have Reich reclaim them three games later. Brown took over play calling again after Reich was fired. And while he did a nice job establishing the run game behind Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers ended the season by being shut out in back-to-back games, the first time that’s happened since 2008 when the Cleveland Browns were blanked in consecutive weeks.

...

Like Tabor, Brown was ranked second among offensive coordinators in the NFLPA survey, an impressive showing given that the Panthers finished 2-15 and were last in total offense. It speaks to the respect players have for Brown, who — similar to former Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady — figures to find success elsewhere after leaving Carolina.
 

Edited January 18, 2024 by Mr. Scot

[ncfan]

Kind of a nothing burger

Ben Johnson top choice….still

been busy interviewing GM candidates 

Tepper doesn’t want a power CEO type.

 

pretty much what we’ve all known all along.

[Mr. Scot]

It does confirm that Johnson is interviewing with more than just us and the Commanders.

[BrianS]

31 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

It does confirm that Johnson is interviewing with more than just us and the Commanders.

Which should be a HUGE concern for us.  WTF has the second overall pick, so a QB is definitely on the cards there.  The Chargers have Justin freaking Herbert.  If I'm an offensive coach, those situations look a lot more attractive to me.

[Shocker]

This job is the least attractive of all these openings by a mile.  Be prepared to be disappointed folks

[thennek]

Be prepared to be looking for a new HC 12-months from now 

[Hoenheim]

Tepper is wasting a lot of time and energy on Ben Johnson in what world does the best HC candidate take the worst available job???

[mav1234]

1 hour ago, Shocker said:

This job is the least attractive of all these openings by a mile.  Be prepared to be disappointed folks

I do think Tepper's recent history, the lack of a first round pick, and likely having to deal with a bust at QB for one year is weighing us down, but the money Tepper is willing to spend can be attractive.  If he can guarantee coaches he's going to do things differently this year with how he interacts with the staff then I think this job could be more attractive than it seems, especially for some guys that may have a local connection, etc.

Plus even being least attractive is still quite attractive.

[KBRed]

The only advantage we have is that he’s from here, might have family here, and Tepper would most likely pay him the most to get him. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

1 hour ago, thennek said:

Be prepared to be looking for a new HC 12-months from now 

yay

[L-TownCat]

Tepper won’t hire head-strong Alphas that would tell him to stick his Appaloosa up his ass.

[4Corners]

In my opinion, Joe Person sucks. 

[Mr. Scot]

2 hours ago, Hoenheim said:

Tepper is wasting a lot of time and energy on Ben Johnson in what world does the best HC candidate take the worst available job???

Perhaps, but realistically what else can you do?

You have to try.

[4Corners]

3 hours ago, Hoenheim said:

Tepper is wasting a lot of time and energy on Ben Johnson in what world does the best HC candidate take the worst available job???

Stuff Johnson’s mouth full of money and make him tell you no.