Hmmm. Jerry Richardson keeps running up karma points like a Big 12 coach looking for a BCS bid.
We knew Richardson got of his hospital bed to go watch the Panthers take on the Broncos in person on Sunday, a decision which is still reverberating around a humbled and moved Carolina lockerroom. Now comes the telling — for the first time anywhere I think — of another Big Cat tale.
The Dallas Morning News’ NFL scribe Rick Gosselin relates that Richardson made a big impression on a Panther newcomer over the summer. Seems backup QB Josh McCown had managed to lock himself in BofA Stadium during his first film session after being acquired by Carolina. Gosselin explains:
“Can I help you?” said a tall man leaning on the receptionist desk in the darkened lobby.
It was Jerry Richardson, the owner of the Panthers. The two men introduced themselves, and McCown explained his plight.
“Mr. Richardson spent the next hour with me,” McCown said. “He showed me how to get out in and out [of the stadium], then he took me to over to Bojangles for some chicken. We had a great conversation.
“I thought, `Man, this guy cares about his players. He genuinely cares.’ I had heard that about Mr. Richardson before I got here, then I got to actually experience it first hand.”
With bonus cajun chicken thrown in. Sounds like a winning combo. Don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but this has all the makings of a truly special season for Carolina. And I really don’t want to get ahead of this but you get the sense Panther free-agents to be are not exactly eager to find another employer after having experienced the Big Cat up close.
