Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson met with team captains and other team leaders at his home yesterday "amid mounting frustrations among some players who feel Richardson’s strongly held beliefs do not allow them to join the growing protests around the NFL," according to a front-page piece by Joseph Person of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Sources said that the meeting was "prompted by increasing tensions among players frustrated by restrictions implemented by Richardson and concerned about possible repercussions should they speak out on social issues." Richardson was the "next-to-last owner to weigh in with a statement" after President Trump’s comments last weekend. Richardson in his statement "praised his players as 'active and impactful participants' in the community." But he also "made it clear he believes sports and politics should remain separate, so as not to damage the NFL" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/27). Panthers coach Ron Rivera has said that he had a "tremendous amount of respect'' for how DE Julius Peppers handled the anthem on Sunday -- Peppers was the only Panthers player to remain in the locker room. But ESPN.com's David Newton noted Rivera "told his players Saturday night that, in his opinion, the best way to show unity was to stand at attention" (ESPN.com, 9/26).
DELICATE LINE TO WALK: Panthers S Captain Munnerlyn appeared on Charlotte-based WFNZ-AM yesterday and said a lot of people "were disappointed" that the organization "didn't do much as a team" during Sunday's game regarding any protests. He said, "We wanted to do more, but we didn’t know how it would come down, this being North Carolina. It’s been a military state. I think a lot of people were scared on our team.” Players "didn't really talk about" whether they should protest before the game. Munnerlyn said he was not “disappointed” by Richardson not issuing a statement until Monday afternoon. He said, "That's my owner, that’s my boss. ... But I definitely was waiting on him to release a statement." Munnerlyn: "You don't want to piss off the wrong people, but at the same time it's about ... how you want to express yourself" ("The Garcia & Bailey Show," WFNZ-AM, 9/26).
LISTEN CLOSELY: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler writes Richardson will be "well-advised to listen more closely in the future to his employees," and he "hopefully was conciliatory" in yesterday's meeting with players. Richardson's "stick-to-sports" message on Monday was "tone-deaf in a couple of ways." It is "clear that the Panthers are hurting themselves from a business standpoint." When free agency begins in the spring, it is likely that "this week will be brought up by other teams trying to lure the same free agents" as the Panthers. Fowler: "'You really want to play for Jerry Richardson?' they will say." Some players "will wonder if Charlotte is really as welcoming a place as we all like to think it is" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/27).
