NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson.Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
- The Carolina Panthers released a statement saying “allegations of workplace misconduct” have been made against owner Jerry Richardson.
- The investigation is being conducted by an independent law firm, but is being led by one of the team’s minority owners.
- One opposing general manager called the investigation “a total scam.”
The Carolina Panthers released a statement on Friday evening announcing that an investigation had been launched after “allegations of workplace misconduct” were made against owner Jerry Richardson.
The team did not give any details about the allegations. The Panthers did raise eyebrows around the NFL world when the statement was released at the end of the workday on Friday and they announced that one of their own is leading the investigation.
This is apparently not sitting well with other teams. NFL insider Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reported that other teams are questioning the investigation and one opposing general manager called it a flat-out “scam.”
“There are more than a few teams wondering why the Panthers are allowed to investigate themselves,” Freeman wrote on Twitter. “One GM called it a ‘total scam.'”
According to the team, the investigation is being conducted by an outside law firm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan, LLP, and the investigation will be overseen by former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, who is also a minority owner of the team.
At this point, it is not clear if the NFL will conduct their own investigation. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Associated Press that the league has no comment at this time.
Here is the Panthers’ statement.
“The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct,” team spokesman Steven Drummond said. “The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it.”
Richardson is a former NFL player. He has been the controlling owner of the Panthers since the franchise was founded in 1993.
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