The Carolina Panthers fired their general manager, Dave Gettleman, on July 17. Not only was it an odd time, 10 days before training camp began, but it was an odd decision. The Panthers are coming off a 6-10 season, but it followed the most successful three-year run in franchise history. Gettleman was fired long after the season ended, so clearly he was not let go because of the season’s results.
With this decision, owner Jerry Richardson made it clear that he is more concerned with keeping his family atmosphere together than he is with winning football games. If that’s how he wants to do it, that’s up to him, but he’ll have a tough time gaining the approval of his fanbase by not making winning the most important thing.
Gettleman did not become an NFL general manager to make friends or build a family, which is what Richardson wants. Gettleman is cutthroat, no doubt about it, but he’s done his job exceptionally well. He has hit the jackpot with his “bargain bin” signings and has a strong track record at the draft.
Panthers fans never got a real explanation, but it seems that this happened for two main reasons: Gettleman’s frugal spending wore on Richardson, especially as it relates to contract extensions with Richardson’s (and fan) favorites; and his inability to work with his boss, his front office staff, players and coaches. Letting franchise legends, such as wide receiver Steve Smith and running back DeAngelo Williams, go worked out in the win column, but it didn’t go over well with Richardson, particularly how Gettleman handled the moves.
Gettleman is a scout at heart and that is part of his downfall. His inability to communicate with players has been made evident with his ugly divorces, most notably with Smith and Williams, but reports have also surfaced that indicate some current players were unhappy with Gettleman and had voiced their concern to Richardson. Now former Panther Michael Oher voiced his displeasure with Gettleman’s unemployment on social media, and was promptly released.
The more one thinks about it, the more it makes sense. If you are a supervisor and don’t get along with your boss or your subordinates, how long do you think you last, no matter how well you do your job? Maybe Richardson and Gettleman did get along, but at the end of the day, Richardson played favorites, big time, and Gettleman refused to play favorites.
As current veterans and fan favorites, linebacker Thomas Davis and tight end Greg Olsen, have recently requested contract extensions, it is clear that Richardson wants them to be paid and that he doesn’t trust Gettleman to do it. Davis and Olsen are crucial football players and community members, and Richardson was not willing to risk their contract negotiations becoming a public story.
Richardson hired interim general manager Marty Hurney to replace Gettleman, which is ironic because Gettleman was hired to replace Hurney in the first place, who was fired in the middle of the 2012 season. Hurney will likely only be the general manager for the season, but if the team that Gettleman has put in place has a big year, which is certainly possible, he could get his old job back permanently.
There is little doubt that Hurney was hired to make sure Richardson’s favorite players get paid, because Hurney had absolutely no issue handing out huge contracts to those players. Of course, Hurney’s spending years ago put Gettleman in a tight position against the salary cap, which he handled masterfully. It’s easy to see why Panthers fans are confused with Gettleman’s firing and Hurney’s hiring.
Richardson made a questionable move firing the most successful general manager in franchise history. It makes sense when you realize that maybe winning isn’t the most important thing to Richardson, but that puts the fans and the team on the field in a frustrating position.
