In Charlotte, Person & Fowler cited sources as saying that former Panthers GM Dave Gettleman’s "brusque management style -- which had made him unpopular" with some Panthers players -- had "begun to wear thin throughout the organization" prior to his firing last week. The "tipping point" for Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson "apparently was Gettleman’s handling of the contract situations" of LB Thomas Davis and TE Greg Olsen, who are two of Richardson's favorite players. For an owner who is as "image-conscious as Richardson, it could not have helped Gettleman when two of the faces of the franchise were starting to gripe about their contracts" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/23). THE MMQB's Robert Klemko wrote he has "never seen ex-players pile on after the firing of a general manager" like some did last week with Gettleman (MMQB.SI.com, 7/24).
VIKING QUEST: The Vikings will hold their last camp training camp in Mankato, Minn., this year before moving to their new HQ in Eagan starting next season, and in St. Paul, Tom Powers wrote it is the "smart and proper move." There will be better "everything in the new place" and the move is "best for the team." Even though the move is "more about land development than football, it’s still terrific for the team." While the Wilf family, which owns the team, is "creating hotels, office space and apartments on most of the Eagan site, the Vikings will have everything they need to be successful." Powers: "We’ll have to wait and see if the Eagan complex has a similarly intimate feel. My guess is that it won’t, but no one ever accused the NFL of being touchy-feely" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/22).
FACE TIME: In Tampa, Greg Auman notes the Buccaneers have unveiled the "changing of the huge player murals on each corner of Raymond James Stadium." DT Gerald McCoy and QB Jameis Winston each have their own mural for the third and second consecutive season, respectively. What is new for '17 is the murals on the east side have two players each -- LBs Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander are on the northeast corner and WRs DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans have the southeast corner. It is "always interesting to see which players the Bucs choose to display so prominently around their stadium" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/24).
