NFL owner to sell team after misconduct accusations

Jerry Richardson, owner of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, announced Sunday he would sell the team amid an investigation into his conduct. Sports Illustrated reported Sunday that Richardson made sexually suggestive comments to women in the workplace and directed a racial slur at an African-American scout for the team, according to anonymous sources. After the report, the NFL on Sunday said it took over an internal investigation of accusations of workplace misconduct within the Panthers organization. Richardson announced in a letter he would sell the team after the season but did not address the accusations. “I believe it is time to turn the franchise over to new ownership,” Richardson wrote. “While I will no longer be the team owner, I will always be the Panthers’ No. 1 fan.” Richardson, a former player with the Baltimore Colts in 1959-60, paid $206 million for the right to start the Panthers franchise, based in Charlotte, N.C., in 1993 and has been the team’s sole owner since. Forbes estimates the franchise’s value is at $2.3 billion now. Since beginning play in 1995, the Panthers made it to the Super Bowl in 2003 and 2015 and lost both times. Hip-hop artist Sean “Diddy” Combs tweeted on Sunday he’s interested in buying the team: “There are no majority African-American NFL owners. Let’s make history.”