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NFL notebook: Tepper, Panthers reportedly shake on $2.2B deal

[May 16, 2018] When NFL owners meet in Atlanta next week, a vote to approve the record $2.2 billion sale of the Carolina Panthers to hedge fund founder David Tepper is expected to be the final step to transition ownership from founder Jerry Richardson.

According to multiple reports, Tepper's bid, well above the NFL-record $1.4 billion sale of the Buffalo Bills in 2014, was selected less than five months after Richardson announced he would place the franchise on the market amidst allegations of sexual harassment and racial intolerance in the workplace.

The $2.2 billion price tag is equal to the amount paid by Tilman Fertitta to purchase the NBA's Houston Rockets.

Tepper, 60, is a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He follows in the footsteps of previous Steelers' minority owner Jimmy Haslam, who bought the Cleveland Browns. Tepper founded Appaloosa Management and according to Forbes, Tepper's net worth as of March was $11 billion.

--The ex-girlfriend of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster plans to testify Thursday that she initially lied to police and that Foster did not hit her on Feb. 11, her attorney told the Sacramento Bee.

The woman, Elissa Ennis, originally told police Foster, 24, hit her in the head eight to 10 times, causing facial bruises and a ruptured eardrum. Ennis has since recanted that statement, saying through her attorney, Stephanie Rickard, that her injuries were suffered in a fight with another woman and that she accused Foster because he threatened to break up with her.

According to the Bee, Ennis is believed to have recanted the story just days after the incident, but charges were filed against Foster in April.

--The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with first-round pick Rashaan Evans, the team announced.

Per league rules, Evans' rookie deal is for four years with the Titans holding a fifth-year option. The team did not reveal the specific money involved, though based upon the rookie salary slotting structure, the former Alabama linebacker is due to earn $11.7 million overall with a $6.59 million signing bonus, Forbes projects.

Tennessee selected Evans, 21, with the No. 22 pick in last month's NFL draft after the Titans vaulted three spots as part of a first-round trade with the Baltimore Ravens. In the deal, the Titans sent the 25th overall pick and a fourth-round pick to the Ravens for the 22nd pick and a sixth-rounder.

--First-round pick Jaire Alexander signed his rookie contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Alexander, the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft, receives a signing bonus of $6.5 million on a four-year deal worth approximately $11.6 million. All first-round picks are granted an option held by the team for a fifth year.

Alexander wore his new Packers' jersey when he received his diploma at the University of Louisville on Saturday. He's expected to start in a revamped secondary.

--The Arizona Cardinals say they were aware that Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk was arrested for disorderly conduct and damaging property in February prior to selecting him in the second round (No. 47 overall) of last month's draft.

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"We knew about it," coach Steve Wilks told reporters. "We did our own independent research on it and we felt very good about the information that we received and that's why we moved forward in really drafting him. As I stated before, we want to bring in great character guys and I think Christian is one of those guys."

Reports surfaced Monday, citing online court records, that Kirk was arrested in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 3. The 21-year-old and his friends were seen throwing rocks at cars while leaving the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament, Scottsdale police told azcentral.com.

--Los Angeles Chargers guard Forrest Lamp is recovering from a "little clean up" procedure on his knee this offseason, according to NFL Network, as he continues his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last fall.

Lamp, 24, has not yet been fully cleared for all football-specific drills, but head coach Anthony Lynn expects that to change soon. Lamp is currently taking part in some of the team's on-field work during its offseason program.

Taken 38th overall in the 2017 draft, Lamp was expected to start immediately as a rookie but tore the ACL in his right knee in early August, ending his rookie campaign before it began. Lamp told the team's official website in February that swelling in the knee had required him to wait three weeks before having surgery to repair the ligament.

--Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson hasn't been shy about criticizing the New England Patriots, and he elaborated on what spurred many of those comments on a Steve Austin podcast.

"Here's what pissed me off," Johnson said when asked about his previous comments. "The Patriots, obviously, I respect their coach, I respect Bill , I respect Tom Brady. But just because the way that they won the Super Bowls, the Patriot Way, is that how everybody else is supposed to do the same thing? No, it's not. And that's what I got mad at, the arrogance by them."

After the Eagles secured their trip to Super Bowl LII with an NFC Championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Johnson called Brady a "pretty boy" and added, "there's nothing I'd like to do more than dethrone that guy."

--Washington Redskins guard Arie Kouandjio could miss several months with a quad injury that required surgery, NFL Network reported.

Kouandjio, 26, is entering his fourth season out of Alabama and has eight career starts in 16 total games played.

According to the report, Kouandjio had a second opinion on his partially torn quad before opting for surgery later this week. Kouandjio stepped into the lineup last season with six starts after the Redskins' offensive line was beset by injuries.

--Field Level Media

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