When David Tepper appeared to throw a drink at fans during the final moments of a Carolina Panthers shutout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it summarized what his tenure as the team owner has been like. 

Each season starts with promise and ends with dysfunction. In the Tepper era, the Panthers have a .316 winning percentage (31-67). That is the NFL’s second-worst over that span, just one game behind the New York Jets’ mark of .306 (30-68).

Despite roster changes, coaching changes, and front office changes, Tepper has remained the one constant — to the detriment of the team. Individuals around the league are taking notice after Tepper's outburst made rounds of social media. On Monday, former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson weighed in, explaining that Carolina's fans deserve far more than they are getting from Tepper and his temper. 

"Can you imagine if a player did this?" Watson said on X in a reply to the video showing Tepper appearing to throw a drink at Jaguars fans as the Panthers lost 26-0. 

"How long would the suspension be? How large would the fine be? From abandoning the Rock Hill project to coaching hires and fires, he is trying every which way to bury this franchise for the foreseeable future. The Carolinas deserve better."

Can you imagine if a player did this? How long would the suspension be? How large would the fine be?

From abandoning the Rock Hill project to coaching hires and fires, he is trying every which way to bury this franchise for the foreseeable future.

The Carolinas deserve better https://t.co/6H3MUaUitV

— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) January 1, 2024

For Watson, Tepper's actions hit close to home. The former tight end played some of his high school career in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He also played some college ball at Duke University. 

Namely, however, Watson points out the egregious missteps Tepper has taken at seemingly every turn. 

It is truly something to marvel at how Tepper turned a somewhat respectable franchise into a dumpster fire in less than a decade. And if he keeps moving at this rate, the Panthers will have nothing to show for it. 

Odds are whatever punishment comes from Tepper's toddler-like outburst will be minuscule. The rich rarely pay the price for their actions — namely, NFL owners. 

But who will continue to suffer in the long run are the fans who desperately want to see a competent football team take the field.

With Tepper continuing to meddle, using the Panthers as a place to strut his ego as opposed to letting football minds make football decisions,  the drink-throwing incident will merely be the latest symptom of a culture predicated on failing values.

Money can only buy so much. Culture has to be built, not bought. As long as Tepper is in charge, the Panthers' culture will never change. Come 2024, it will probably be rinse and repeat.  

David Tepper’s latest actions show it’s time for him to sell the team

It has been a difficult season for the Carolina Panthers all around.