Report opens up on Panthers, Frank Reich breakup

At least one knowledgeable individual believes former Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich may have been looking for a way out before team owner David Tepper fired Reich this past Monday. 

"It sounded like Frank was forcing his way out a couple weeks ago when he detailed in press conferences how involved the owner was," an unnamed source told NFL reporter Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post for a piece published Thursday afternoon. "Frank can’t hide it when he’s unhappy, and taking back the play-calling after initially giving it up was his way of saying, 'I’m going out my way.'"

Reich initially handed play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown after the Panthers fell to 0-6 in October. However, Reich reclaimed such responsibilities when Carolina sat at 1-8 after Week 10. 

As for the press conferences mentioned by Dunleavy's source, Reich made it known when Carolina was 0-5 that Tepper embraces a hands-on approach to team ownership, "wants to bring a winner to the Carolinas" and "wants it now." While Reich only coached 11 regular-season games with the Panthers, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reported on Monday that "Tepper will be on the hook for an estimated $9M per season over the next three seasons" due to Reich's four-year contract. 

It's unclear how much the struggles of Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young coupled with Houston Texans first-year pro C.J. Stroud enjoying a tremendous debut season resulted in Reich's firing. One former NFL head coach suggested to Dunleavy that owners/front offices around the league no longer preach patience. 

"I don’t know any coach who has a five-year plan," that coach explained. "You better have a two-year plan or you are going to be out of a job in three years." 

Such takes won't repair Tepper's damaged reputation as he looks to convince potential big-name candidates they'll receive adequate time to turn what is currently the NFL's worst team into a winner. Money certainly talks, but no noteworthy coach will want to uproot his life to become a one-and-done part of Carolina football history.