A strange tale is coming out of Carolina - and out of Bristol, too - that involves Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud, ESPN NFL "insider'' Adam Schefter and ... the wife of Panthers owner David Tepper ?
In an appearance on "Pardon My Take,'' Schefter attempts to get cute as he reveals that Nicole Tepper - wife of beleaguered Panthers owner David Tepper - was a "big C.J. Stroud fan" leading up to last April's NFL Draft.
"If you're the Panthers and you made that trade... and - I like to tease the owner - his wife was a big C.J. Stroud person. She likes C.J. Stroud," Schefter said.
The Panthers had multiple options with that No. 1 overall pick. Trade ideas were in play. So was simply selecting the Ohio State QB Stroud.
Instead, Carolina wound up taking Young, who struggled as a rookie while playing for one of the NFL's poorest teams. Sacks were a problem. Coaching was a problem. Wins were a problem.
Maybe ownership was and is a problem as well.
Meanwhile, of course, the Carolina decision left Houston to take at No. 2 another quarterback in 2023. ... and that turned out to be Stroud, who experienced a historic rookie season while leading a turnaround of the Texans, who won the division and advanced to the playoffs.
The Texans come away looking brilliant after pivoting away from the almost-good era of Deshaun Watson to a new time with so much promise.
And in Carolina? The whole story seems icky. Why is Schefter "teasing'' Tepper? Why does Mrs. Tepper get an organizational vote? And how does continuing hints at unhappiness with Young help the Panthers ever win?
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