Sources said that Richardson declined to make himself available to NFL investigators throughout the processGETTY IMAGES
A look into the NFL's investigation into misconduct claims against former Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson revealed the "unmistakable conclusion" that the league's "outsourcing makes for slick and effective, if expensive, damage control," according to Wertheim & Bernstein of SI. As for the "rigor of the actual fact-finding, that's considerably less clear." The Panthers investigation "would be handled by Mary Jo White, a former federal prosecutor and SEC chair who had previously overseen" the Saints Bountygate investigation. Members of the Panthers organization were "informed of the process through emails." But multiple employees, who said that they were "willing to speak with White, were never contacted and were surprised by the passivity of the investigation." One longtime male Panthers employee said, "The burden was on (women) to come forward. Shouldn't an investigator actually investigate?" Another former Panthers employee, who reached a settlement with Richardson, said, "I have spoken with other people who were in the same situation I was in, and none spoke to the league or were contacted." Sources said that Richardson "declined to make himself available to White." Meanwhile the NFL, despite the leverage it "held in being in position to approve the Panthers sale, would not demand his cooperation." Wertheim & Bernstein note with "no ability to compel testimony, much less the subpoena power a government agency might wield in a similar probe, White was forced to rely on other avenues and sources to investigate Richardson." There were at least two victims of Richardson's harassment "eager to speak with White and share their experiences," but they "withdrew their offers, absent a guarantee that speaking would not jeopardize their settlement payments" (SI, 7/30 issue).
THE STATUE ISSUE: SI.com's Jonathan Jones cited a source as saying that the statue of Richardson outside Bank of America Stadium "will likely never go anywhere" despite the fact that various workarounds "were considered." The source said, "As long as that team is in the Carolinas, which will likely be forever because Mr. [David] Tepper has no intention of moving them, as long as they are the Carolina Panthers, that statue needs to be there.” Jones noted when the Panthers were put up for sale, it was "made clear to all interested buyers" that the statue's standing was "non-negotiable" (SI.com, 7/27).
