The NFL fined Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 on Tuesday in response to Tepper throwing a drink at fans near the end of the Panthers' 26-0 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday in Jacksonville.
After the Panthers went two days without commenting on the incident, the team issued a three-sentence statement from Tepper on Tuesday evening that did not include an apology.
“I am extremely excited for this team and regret my behavior on Sunday,” Tepper said in the statement. “I should have allowed NFL stadium security to handle any issues that might arise. I respect the NFL Code of Conduct and accept league discipline for my conduct.
The fine won't have much impact on Tipper's fortunes, since it represents less than one percent of his net worth of $20.6 billion.
Fans have in the past been banned from the stadium for life for throwing drinks at players. Some observers believe the league may suspend Tepper for at least one game for what the NFL described as “unacceptable behavior.” But this was not true.
“All NFL employees are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways that respect our fans and reflect positively on their team and the NFL,” the league said in a statement.
A Jaguars fan posted a video Sunday of Tepper throwing the contents of a cup into the stands of the visiting owner's suite at EverBank Stadium. The video shows Tepper standing next to general manager Scott Fitterer when the incident occurred after rookie quarterback Bryce Young made an interception, allowing the Jaguars to run the final three minutes off the clock.
It was the first time the Panthers had been shut out since 2002. They finished with just 124 net yards and seven first downs, both among the worst single-game totals in franchise history.
It's been a tough year for Tepper, who fired coach Frank Reich in November after just 11 games, the second-shortest tenure in NFL history for a head coach who has coached at least one regular-season game.
With another loss Sunday to Tampa Bay, the Panthers (2-14) will finish with the worst record in the NFL since the league went to a 17-game schedule in 2021. In most years, the Panthers will have at least a No. 1 draft pick as a liner. Silver, but they traded that pick to the Chicago Bears as part of the package to move up and draft Young with the first overall pick this year.
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(Photo: Bob Doonan/USA Today)
