Carolina Panthers' owner fined $300,000 by NFL for drink-throwing incident; team's struggles continue with 2-14 season. (Getty Images)
David Tepper's frustration boiled over during the Carolina Panthers' recent loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, resulting in an incident where the team owner seemingly tossed his drink at a Jaguars fan. Following this action, the NFL imposed a hefty fine of $300,000 on Tepper for his behavior, highlighting the league's expectations for respectful conduct from all personnel towards fans and the NFL.
The league emphasized the importance of maintaining conduct that upholds a positive image for both the team and the NFL itself. Tepper, acknowledging his inappropriate behavior, issued a statement expressing regret for his actions. He admitted that he should have relied on NFL stadium security to handle any arising issues, acknowledging the league's code of conduct and accepting the disciplinary action imposed.
A video recording illustrates Tepper's act of flipping his drink towards fans located outside his luxury box, followed by his visible displeasure as a Jaguars supporter appeared to direct attention towards his seating area.
The Panthers' dismal season culminated in a 2-14 record, securing their position as the worst-performing team in the NFL for the season. The team's struggles prompted Tepper to dismiss Frank Reich merely 11 games into his tenure as the head coach.
Among the team's major disappointments is the underwhelming performance of rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Throughout the season, Young faced a staggering 59 sacks, with six more added to his tally during the recent game against the Jaguars. The Panthers' offensive struggles were evident as they managed a mere 124 yards and a dismal 1 out of 13 conversions on third downs. Young's performance statistics have been subpar, as evidenced by his league-worst 73.7 passer rating and a meager 5.5 yards per pass attempt, earning him the undesirable distinction of having the poorest stats in the NFL in these categories.
