Nicole Tepper’s comments in the editorial office are greatly exaggerated

It’s a quiet week in the NFL. But the lack of stories doesn’t justify making something out of nothing.

Twitter bots stumbled upon a clip of Panthers executive director Nicole Tepper, wife of Panthers owner David Tepper, making remarks in the draft room earlier this year.

The clip itself doesn’t reveal much, and not enough to justify the characterization that it is the “This is the first time we see the owner’s wife helping to make choices.” That didn’t stop sites like Athlon Sports from running this embarrassing, clickbait headline: “Fans in disbelief over video of NFL owner’s wife helping with draft picks.”

“Many people ask questions “The involvement of an owner’s spouse in such crucial decisions, a role traditionally reserved for football operations personnel,” the article explains. (“Many are wondering” means “wandering fans who don’t know anything are speaking out on Twitter.”)

Watch the video again. It says almost nothing.

The fact that multi-billion dollar football companies are owned and operated like family food trucks isn’t unique to the Panthers. It’s one of the fundamental realities that makes every team (except the Packers) so compelling. And, frankly, Nicole Tepper is no less qualified to opine on football personnel than her husband, whose ownership credentials come solely from the fact that he has enough money to buy it.

The owner of an NFL team (except the Packers) can do whatever he wants when it comes to employing his family members. If the goal is to keep the team in the family, it becomes essential to involve others who will eventually take over from the person who wrote the check and took the wheel.

The only alternative is to sell the team when that person can no longer continue. That’s what Ralph Wilson’s family did with the Bills, and that’s what Pat Bowlen’s family ultimately had to do with the Broncos.

If Nicole Tepper outlives her husband, she will likely lead the team, as Georgia Frontiere did for decades with the Rams. (Along the way, Frontiere presided over the construction of the greatest spectacle on turf.) So why shouldn’t she be involved now?

Really, what’s more concerning? The owner’s spouse making off-color comments in the draft room? Or the owner who has a clear history of micromanaging the team, including (by all appearances) forcing Bryce Young onto the front office and coaching staff? (Nicole apparently) favorite CJ Stroud. So maybe she should lead the team now.)

Additionally, we have yet to see any videos of Nicole Tepper throwing a drink at a fan and/or removing someone’s hat after stopping at a local restaurant because the sign out front had a message that offended her.

This is the crux of the matter. Anyone who makes a big deal out of Nicole Tepper’s comments is revealing their own ignorance about how things work.

Or maybe they know exactly how things work, but they’re not about to turn down an opportunity to pander to those who think women shouldn’t be involved in football in any capacity.