Could David Tepper’s viral drink toss impact the Panthers’ search for a head coach?

So much for patience.

Panthers owner David Tepper not only showed his inability to control his emotions on New Year’s Eve, he also validated the lingering opinions about his shortcomings in being able to lead Carolina with class, character and composure.

We don’t know what was said before Tepper was filmed tossing the contents of a cup toward a crowd of Jacksonville Jaguars fans at EverBank Stadium on Sunday. The Panthers don’t want to tell their side of the story. And maybe the context of those words, in the end, wouldn’t change anything.

But what we do know is that Tepper clearly has an impulse to react, and in Jacksonville, his reaction was childish. He was also fined $300,000 Tuesday for what the league called “unacceptable conduct.”

“I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday,” Tepper said in a team-issued statement regarding the fine. “I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the league’s discipline for my behavior.”

If you spent part of your New Year’s Eve night thinking, “Good for Frank Reich for getting out with his guaranteed money,” you definitely weren’t alone.

The way Tepper reacted to his team’s 26-0 loss to the Jaguars — the first shutout loss for Carolina since 2002 — was another check mark for the fans and pundits who have routinely called him the problem with the Panthers. Tepper’s cup hurl wasn’t just an action — it was the embodiment of how he’s viewed by his detractors: a billionaire owner with unlimited power who doesn’t know how to use it properly in the NFL sector.

With a head coaching search on deck, the Panthers and Tepper might need to sell themselves in interviews to land the right candidate, instead of the other way around.

Step right up and work for the owner who tosses drinks, fires head coaches

The Panthers have become a circus of follies since Tepper took control in 2018. He’s fired three head coaches in the middle of three different seasons, and by this campaign’s end, he will likely have passed on hiring all three assigned interim leaders.

Carolina is 31-67 under Tepper’s watch. And while general manager Scott Fitterer has become the recent face of the team’s futility, it’s fair to wonder how much the owner has been involved in the top executive’s dealings. Regardless, Fitterer owns the failures of the past three years, and while his status is up in the air, it’s clear he has done a subpar job in the top seat.

As the Panthers get ready to hire another head coach, they might also journey into the GM pool as well this offseason. It’s hard to think that — regardless of Tepper’s deep pockets — Carolina will be the top choice for the best candidates in any realm of football operations.

While Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson appears to be the top first-time head coach candidate league-wide heading into the offseason, it’s important to remember that he’s from the Carolinas, and he probably has friends and family who still live here. They see what happens with this organization up close. Imagine watching the video of Tepper hurling the contents of a cup in his owner’s suite and thinking this will be a stable working environment for a young head coach.

Reich, who is still well-respected within coaching circles, lasted 11 games in Carolina. While it clearly wasn’t working out with quarterback Bryce Young and company, Reich getting a quicker booting than former Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer is likely going to be talked about among the coaches in the league for years.

Matt Rhule wasn’t an NFL lifer, but Reich was, and so there is likely a different outlook on the former QB than the current Nebraska head coach among their peers.

Money is important in a head coaching carousel, but so is the dynamic of ownership. For a first-timer, these opportunities can set up a coach for life, but if that coach is someone who wants to coach well into his 60s, a quick failure could sabotage his career trajectory.

Also, keep in mind, coaches’ wives and families are hyper aware of what goes on in the league. They also have access to social media, where Tepper’s embarrassment is readily available for them to watch over and over again — and study. Some of those wives and families might be hesitant to travel for a quick rise and sudden stop with an owner who has a reputation of being erratic and impulsive.

Two of the questions in this week’s Panthers mailbag were: “Realistically, how do we fix the Tepper problem?” and “Why is David Tepper the way he is?”

Those questions aren’t easy to answer, and the problem for the Panthers is that those same questions could be asked by candidates within the search and those around them.

If this head coaching job was an exhibit at an old-time carnival, the pitch — from the outside looking in — would be something like, “Step right up and work for the billionaire owner who fires coaches after 11 games, tosses drinks toward fans, yells expletives in front of media after losses, and occasionally flubs when made available in press conferences.”

The Panthers are one of 32 NFL teams. They’ll have interest from coaches and execs — make no mistake about it. But the problem for the Panthers hasn’t been finding people to fill those roles, it’s been creating the right mix to forge a successful NFL product.

After the New Year’s Eve nightmare scenario of a shutout shellacking and Tepper’s underhand hurl, does this job look particularly enticing on the surface?

Oh, and by the way, if you’re going to apply — you should probably know that the Chicago Bears own the first overall pick that Carolina earned by having the worst record in the league this season.

Panthers mailbag: Finding hope in the future for Carolina

Trip asks: Given the incredibly unique aspect of the upcoming draft for the Panthers (should be first overall, but aren’t), what is the path to success for with player talent? What is the cap room in ‘24, ‘25? Does this team have a realistic future playoff game in the next three seasons?

Trip, it isn’t going to be easy, at least immediately.

The salary caps for 2024 and 2025 aren’t solidified yet, but industry website, Over The Cap, projects the Panthers’ next two years to have totals of $39.15 million (2024) and $129.5 million (2025) in room.

Free agency shouldn’t be a problem from a spending standpoint, but they’ll need to have a pretty thorough plan to boost this roster in a jiffy.

There are needs scattered across the depth chart, and depending on who takes over from a coaching perspective, there could be more to come because of scheme and culture rebuilds.

The logical move would be to focus funds on offense to build around Young and his development, from offensive line talent to playmaking weapons. Then, the team could focus on defense in the draft after spending quite a bit of money on the unit in back-to-back offseasons. The team also needs to figure out the future contracts for Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Derrick Brown, which will be costly.

This is going to be a two-year rebuild, at the earliest, for Carolina — no matter who is running things. There are some pockets of talent on the roster, but a new coach could view that talent as negligible or poor system fits and create further voids. That’s what happens when your head coach chair is spun more than an amusement park ride at Disneyland.

The playoffs in three years are doable if Young can ascend and the team can find the right coach and supporting cast. For now, though, the immediate future seems somewhat uninspiring.

Panthers mailbag: Thielen and Moton critical for future

Jared asks: Outside of Bryce Young, who are three players you consider critical pieces of the Panthers’ offense?

Adam Thielen, Taylor Moton and … Chuba Hubbard?

This offense is bad, and I’m not sure that anyone is particularly critical outside of Young, Thielen and Moton. But Hubbard is cheap and on a rookie deal, and I think he is capable of being a No. 1 running back in a pass-heavy offense next season. Hubbard’s team-friendly cost will help the Panthers digest Miles Sanders’ deal — whether its still on the books or the result of significant dead money penalties — so they can spend elsewhere.

Thielen has caught 101 passes for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns this season. He has been terrific within his function of the offense. Though, one could argue that his slot-heavy responsibilities have negatively affected Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall from a traits-benefit standpoint.

Mingo and Marshall are probably better slot weapons than outside weapons, but you’re not going to bench the only dependable set of hands on the roster for a rookie and an underwhelming former draft pick with a rookie at quarterback. Thielen is good for Young, he constantly chats with him during and after games and I think he is a trusty veteran who believes in Young and vice versa.

Moton has easily been the most effective offensive lineman this season. Yes, low bar, but he’s still capable of being a valued and trusted asset. The offensive line could see pretty substantial movement this offseason, but Moton should stay in place. He is consistent and reliable, and frankly, he’s not responsible for a lot of plays that put Young in harm’s way. Moton, according to Pro Football Focus, has given up 41 total pressures this season, but only one sack in 16 games. That’ll do from the right side.

Otherwise, this unit needs a dramatic makeover that will take at least two years to feel settled, especially if the new head coach brings in a dramatically different offense.