The Jerry Richardson Statue Is Coming Down

Work began this afternoon on the removal of the Jerry Richardson statue outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Panthers claim the statue is coming down due to safety reasons, according to Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer. Fowler's reporting Richardson wasn't aware of the decision to take down the statue and his spokesperson has released a statement regarding tensions across the country.

"Mr. Richardson has made no public comments about the Panthers or the NFL since the sale of the team and doesn’t plan to do so now as a private citizen. He has worked to treat all people fairly in his business and personal lives and, like many other Americans, is troubled by recent events in Minneapolis, Charlotte, and around the country."

Richardson was fined $2.75 million by the NFL in 2018 for sexual harassment and racial slur charges that were reported on by Sports Illustrated. That statue, a going-away gift to Richardson from the Panthers minority owners, was negotiated into the sale to David Tepper. That's right, Richardson negotiated the statue staying into his sale of the franchise.

Tepper was asked about the statue when he took over the franchise. "Um … I’m contractually obligated to keep that statue as it is," Tepper said.