David Jensen/Getty ImagesA Charlotte restaurant poked fun at Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper this week after Tepper visited the establishment prior to last week's 2024 NFL draft.
Outside the Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, a sign reads, "Hats off to the new Panthers," in reference to an encounter Tepper had with the restaurant's staff:
David Scott @DavidSc17628255Swung by before work to snag a pic today <a href="https://t.co/7XyQMsF5pi">pic.twitter.com/7XyQMsF5pi</a>
Tepper saw a sign outside the restaurant last week that read, "Please let the coach & GM pick this year," prompting Tepper to stop in and have a discussion about it:
Brock Saturno @Bsaturno9Panthers Owner David Tepper just stopped inside to have a word with the owners about the sign out front. This is not a joke <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Panthers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Panthers</a> <a href="https://t.co/SYI0AyOlk4">pic.twitter.com/SYI0AyOlk4</a>
At the start of the video, Tepper is seen removing a hat from the host's head, and the new "hats off" sign is a clear nod to the encounter:
WBTV News @WBTV_News'LET THE COACH AND GM PICK' 🏈: Surveillance footage captured the moment <a href="https://twitter.com/Panthers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Panthers</a> owner David Tepper walked into a Charlotte restaurant after a sign was put up prior to the NFL Draft.<br><br>Full story: <a href="https://t.co/tYPhlekttU">https://t.co/tYPhlekttU</a> <a href="https://t.co/tc0eihPAkT">pic.twitter.com/tc0eihPAkT</a>
While that action could have been viewed as confrontational by some, the Charlotte Observer's Alex Zietlow reported that Tepper was "friendly" with the staff.
Tepper has been the Panthers' owner since 2018, and over the past several years, he has gained the reputation of being a hands-on owner.
While that can be a positive in certain situations, he has also had a great deal of blame thrown in his direction by fans and reporters for some of the decisions that have been made in relation to the franchise.
In the wake of the Panthers using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft on Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, speculation ran wild regarding the notion that then-head coach Frank Reich preferred Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, only for Tepper to push for the selection of Young.
In November, Tepper denied the rumors, telling reporters that taking Young was a choice shared by many within the organization:
"Just the way our processes go here, I'll just answer this really plain. In all those decisions, whether it was [hiring] the head coach, whether it was [drafting] Bryce, I don't really vote on those decisions until the last piece, OK? So those decisions are made by ... the football people.
"Now, look, everything that's right and everything that's wrong here ultimately is my fault, OK? I have the final say. But as far as those decisions, whether it's Frank Reich or it's Bryce Young, those decisions were made, and in the case of Bryce it was almost—I believe it was a unanimous decision, and the coaches and the scouts had very strong opinions at the time."
Early returns suggest that the Panthers may have made a huge mistake, as Stroud had a spectacular rookie season, and Young struggled.
While Stroud was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and surprisingly led the Texans to an AFC South title and a playoff win, Young went just 2-14 as a starter, throwing 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
To further exacerbate the situation, Panthers would have had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but they traded it to the Chicago Bears to move up to select Young. With what was originally the Panthers' pick, the Bears took USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall this year.
The Panthers did manage to get into the first round of the 2024 draft, though, trading up from No. 33 to No. 32 in order to secure a weapon for Young in South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette.
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