NFL insider sounds alarms about Panthers' HC opening

NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports believes that head coach candidates should think twice before accepting the full-time job with the Carolina Panthers after Panthers owner David Tepper fired Frank Reich on Nov. 27. 

"I think there should be blinking lights to warn every coach who interviews for this Carolina head-coaching job: Beware," King wrote for his "Football Morning in America" column published on Monday. "If you trust yourself, and if you trust that some other trustworthy, smart owner—unlike what there is in Charlotte—will want you one of these days, just walk on by. Wait." 

It was previously said that at least Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had received text messages from Carolina staff members warning him "about how complicated it has been" working for the Panthers during what's become a rough season for the franchise. 

That was before Joseph Person and Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on the "Hunger Games" culture within the Panthers that included coaches thinking that "staff members were text messaging Tepper behind Reich’s back about issues they saw with the team" before Tepper fired Reich and before Carolina fell to 1-12.

"An owner who actively engages with multiple employees in opposition to what the head coach is doing is a big part of the problem," King wrote. "It’s not the owner’s job to encourage employees to undercut the coach. It’s reprehensible that the owner would engage in or encourage that." 

King added that a Panthers franchise that's starting struggling rookie Bryce Young at quarterback is "a mess." 

This past Wednesday, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN linked Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith with the Panthers. 

It remains to be seen if any of those candidates would follow King's advice and decline to interview with Tepper this winter. 

Interim head coach Chris Tabor will next guide the Panthers into this coming Sunday's home game against the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons. As of early Monday evening, oddschecker listed Carolina as a three-point underdog for that matchup.