Owner David Tepper's temper tantrum only adds to the Panthers' embarrassing season

Just when it appeared the season couldn’t get any more embarrassing for the Carolina Panthers, owner David Tepper finds himself embroiled in a public relations nightmare after video surfaced of the billionaire throwing the contents of a drink in the direction of Jaguars fans from his suite following a 26-0 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday.

The NFL on Tuesday fined Tepper $300,000, calling his conduct “unacceptable,” and Tepper apologized in a statement.

“I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the league’s discipline for my behavior,” Tepper said.

The fine is nothing the league's second-wealthiest owner can't handle. But what's worse is that Tepper's temper tantrum has drawn even more attention to all that is wrong in Carolina, which has become the laughingstock of the NFL.

The NFL-worst Panthers (2-14) are an abysmal 31-67 since Tepper bought the team in 2018, failing to make the playoffs in each of his six seasons.

While Tepper's actions were unacceptable, his frustration is certainly understandable.

Nothing is going right for him as an NFL owner.

Tepper was so desperate for stability at the quarterback position last spring that he essentially agreed to mortgage the franchise's future by trading away four draft picks and top receiver D.J. Moore to move up eight spots to get Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

The move has backfired.

Not only have the Panthers received little production from Young, but now they must surrender the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL draft to the Chicago Bears. The Panthers also gave up their first- and second-round picks in 2023 and a second-round pick in 2025 for Young, who is 2-13 as a starter and ranks near the bottom of the league in almost every key statistical category.

That led to the ouster of first-year coach Frank Reich, marking the impatient Tepper's third midseason firing in six seasons.

General manager Scott Fitterer might be next out the door.

Fitterer not only orchestrated what may go down as one of the worst trades in NFL history, but also swung and missed by signing free agents Miles Sanders and Hayden Hurst and failed to upgrade an offensive line that has been ineffective all season.

And it was Fitterer who dealt Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers last season, but failed to land a first-round draft choice in return.

The season has been such a mess that the Panthers could become the first team since at least 1991 to go an entire season without a single fourth-quarter play being run with them in the lead. Both of Carolina's wins came on last-play field goals by Eddy Pineiro.