Carolina Panthers: The NFL still has issues to address

While David Tepper is in as the new owner of the Carolina Panthers, the league still has to answer questions about the ongoing investigation of Jerry Richardson.

The effort to move the Carolina Panthers past the Jerry Richardson scandal has taken its most important step. David Tepper was confirmed by the 32 owners of the NFL to take over the reins of the Charlotte-based organization. To many, this is a move in the right direction as Tepper is quite different from the man that instructed Panthers staff to call him “Mister.” But the question remains as to whether or not this major shift if enough to close the case on Richardson’s time as owner.

Tepper was front and center during the owners’ meeting on Tuesday, where he was he received a unanimous vote by all 32 members of a very exclusive club. In some ways, Tepper was a partial member of that group before this transaction as he was a minority holder in the Pittsburgh Steelers. But even that situation was easily rectified to complete the move to bring him in as the new owner for the Carolina Panthers.

With Richardson out as the owner of the Panthers, it will be interesting to see how the league continues its investigation into the rampant allegations of sexual and racial misconduct. NFL leadership has been widely mum on the situation and the steps being taken to thoroughly investigate the matter. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the idea that the allegation was a “farce,” an idea that was presented by an individual who has accused Richardson of misconduct in a series of letters published by Sports Illustrated.

"“Mary Jo White is highly respected with the greatest integrity and she wouldn’t be involved with anything that is a farce,” Goodell said in the video provided by The Charlotte Observer. “She has her own procedures and policies. We are going to allow her to complete her job and when she’s completed her job we will take it from there.”"

White is the former chair of the Securities Exchange Commission and was hired to lead this investigation in January. To date it has been unclear whether or not the investigation will offer protections to the former Panthers employees who have NDAs barring them from openly talking about the situation.

Still, the question remains as to what actions the league can and will take against Carolina now that Richardson is out of his position. Tepper has assured everyone that he will usher in a new era within the front office of the organization, but that doesn’t mean the league can turn a blind eye to past transgressions. Especially after ownership and Goodell have made it a point to punish players and institute rules to keep them from practicing social awareness on the field.

This is a matter that’s in the forefront within society today and if the league allows Richardson to walk off into the sunset without some form of punishment then that will show that the NFL isn’t truly out to hold people accountable nor does it care about the issues that are important within our community today.

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The NFL is in a precarious position as one of the largest sports organizations in the world and a leader throughout that industry. Even though Jerry Richardson is out as the Carolina Panthers owner, the way the league responds to this matter will come under the highest of scrutiny from onlookers within its fan base and the media alike.