Panthers put interim GM Marty Hurney on paid leave after ex-wife’s allegations

[Kevin Greene]

1 minute ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

Better question might be:  How does Marty Hurney prove to a judge that he should have gotten the job over anybody else?

Well he's a good ol boy.

[RoaringRiot]

3 minutes ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

Better question might be:  How does Marty Hurney prove to a judge that he should have gotten the job over anybody else?

It will all make sense pretty soon. 

[NanuqoftheNorth]

Just now, RoaringRiot said:

It will all make sense pretty soon. 

That might be a first in the history of this franchise.

[Jon Snow]

Just now, NanuqoftheNorth said:

That might be a first in the history of this franchise.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[RoaringRiot]

2 minutes ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

That might be a first in the history of this franchise.

Haha....great point. I should have phrased that differently. 

[Woodie]

1 minute ago, RoaringRiot said:

I used the term "wrongful termination-ish" because, yes, I don't know what the exact suit would be. It wasn't meant to be a literal legal term. 

Good lord. This is why I don't post info in the main forum anymore. 

Why so sensitive?  I realize this is emotional for you, and the funny thing is I'm actually not disagreeing with you about the unfairness of it all.  I'm just stating facts, whether they are convenient or not. 

Any suit would be very difficult to prove unless there is information that is not known to the public or if there is proof that the Panthers or NFL terminated him knowing for a fact that the allegations are false (not an assumption, but an actual provable fact).  But from what we do know, that is not the case.  We know Hurney's ex-wife said he did some bad stuff, he disputed it, a judge ruled against her, and she withdrew her complaint.  But we also know that the judge did not rule she was lying or the information was false, just that there was not enough evidence to support her claim.  And in her withdrawal, she did not say the accusations were false, only that they shouldn't effect his ability to do the job.  So unless there is more to the story that is unknown, then there is more than enough reason to justify the team moving on and the NFL investigating.  

Unless Hurney has signed a contract, if the Panthers do decide to move on, the most likely scenario would be that the team does not extend his contract when it expires in a few months.  In that event, all this is moot anyway.  

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

That might be a first in the history of this franchise.

Sad but true.

It does sound like the Panthers are either afraid of something that they don't actually have any reason to fear or are trying to make an excuse for doing something that people are going to criticize them for (one that doesn't sound like it holds water).

Regardless of whether the legal team knows what they're doing, it sounds like the people who shape the team's public image sure as hell don't.

[NanuqoftheNorth]

If Marty Hurney were a stellar GM with a long history of success I could see the conundrum. 

As it stands, I don't.

The easiest and most expeditious way out of this situation is to select a new GM (not named Marty Hurney) and move on.

[Jon Snow]

I just think it's hilarious that the final straw the breaks the back of JR's last grasp to entrench his guy is the crazy ex-wife of the very guy himself.

The old guard won't go quietly into the night.

[RoaringRiot]

4 minutes ago, Woodie said:

Why so sensitive?  I realize this is emotional for you, and the funny thing is I'm actually not disagreeing with you about the unfairness of it all.  I'm just stating facts, whether they are convenient or not. 

Any suit would be very difficult to prove unless there is information that is not known to the public or if there is proof that the Panthers or NFL terminated him knowing for a fact that the allegations are false 

I was trying to lead you all to the answer by saying you should read the info that's out there regarding just this bit right here. It would fill in all the gaps. But you said it didn't matter because I didn't understand NC employment law. Which is hilarious considering what I do know. 

When I come in here I try to share info when I have it and can share it - it's usually in All Pro because more people can handle it there. Sometimes it's vague but can be pieced together. But really there's no gain for me to share it and when people would rather argue about it it just gets exhausting. So carry on with the law lesson - I'll just get out of the way. 

[Mr. Scot]

20 minutes ago, Woodie said:

Why so sensitive?  I realize this is emotional for you, and the funny thing is I'm actually not disagreeing with you about the unfairness of it all.  I'm just stating facts, whether they are convenient or not. 

Any suit would be very difficult to prove unless there is information that is not known to the public or if there is proof that the Panthers or NFL terminated him knowing for a fact that the allegations are false (not an assumption, but an actual provable fact).  But from what we do know, that is not the case.  We know Hurney's ex-wife said he did some bad stuff, he disputed it, a judge ruled against her, and she withdrew her complaint.  But we also know that the judge did not rule she was lying or the information was false, just that there was not enough evidence to support her claim.  And in her withdrawal, she did not say the accusations were false, only that they shouldn't effect his ability to do the job.  So unless there is more to the story that is unknown, then there is more than enough reason to justify the team moving on and the NFL investigating.  

Unless Hurney has signed a contract, if the Panthers do decide to move on, the most likely scenario would be that the team does not extend his contract when it expires in a few months.  In that event, all this is moot anyway.  

There are a couple of things about this that stick out to me.

One: Making Hurney the GM while he's the subject of an active investigation puts you in the spot of having the team's top two officials - owner and GM - both under investigation at the same time.  For a team that's on the market and trying to maximize its value, not a good look.  Likewise, not a good look when it comes to the team's image with the public.

Two: If you have other viable candidates for the job, why do you not simply hire one of them?  The team has publicly stated that this is a real GM search and not just a show.  Being willing to wait out a full NFL investigation rather than hire one of the other candidates makes that statement look like a bald faced lie and sends a clear message to the Fritz Pollard Alliance that your Rooney Rule compliance was a joke.

Three: What kind of message does it send when you have an owner who'd rather move hell or high water to keep his white buddy in place than sign an African American candidate?  Or one who would dismiss a player like Greg Hardy (technically found innocent) but stick by Marty Hurney through his accusations even to the point of putting the team in an awkward position?

Said it before: Sometimes I think this team believes people will just buy whatever line they feed them, and then when people are skeptical they seem genuinely shocked.  That is a total lack of self-awareness and, frankly, a sign of incompetence and stupidity.

Oy...

If the team is really going to push this hard for Hurney, the logical conclusion is that despite his claims of having removed himself from the Panthers operations, Jerry Richardson - through people loyal to him - is ultimately still the one pulling the strings.  I gotta wonder what the NFL would have to say about that.

Basic truth of it all?  The Panthers are going to be sooooo much better off when Jerry Richardson is no longer in charge.

[Murph]

On a side note here is a two year old article praising Jimmy Raye (in case you wanted more info on the other candidates since they are realisticly in play now)

http://m.colts.com/news/article-1/Jimmy-Raye-III-Ryan-Grigsons-Trusted-Right-Hand-Man/bba67d1d-2eb9-410a-9e56-1d3a728eb050

[Kevin Greene]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

 

Said it before: Sometimes I think this team believes people will just buy whatever line they feed them

Seems like there's a pretty good PR campaign going on here and Social Media via various avenues.

[Woodie]

11 minutes ago, RoaringRiot said:

I was trying to lead you all to the answer by saying you should read the info that's out there regarding just this bit right here. It would fill in all the gaps. But you said it didn't matter because I didn't understand NC employment law. Which is hilarious considering what I do know. 

When I come in here I try to share info when I have it and can share it - it's usually in All Pro because more people can handle it there. Sometimes it's vague but can be pieced together. But really there's no gain for me to share it and when people would rather argue about it it just gets exhausting. So carry on with the law lesson - I'll just get out of the way. 

Based on what you said, you did show a lack of understanding of NC employment law.  If you have information that changes the known facts, then it invalidates your entire rant here.  If you read what I said carefully, it is all predicated on the known information, that's all.  I laid out what we know, so if you know anything that is not public knowledge, then please share, otherwise hold your sanctimonious responses. 

And anytime someone calls you out, why is it you get all condescending?  You say you try to lead people to the answer, but what you are actually doing is saying everyone should believe as you do, but without all the information you claim to have.  Then when they argue, you get all patronizing towards them.  You have contacts and insights most here do not, so rather than talk down to them when they are missing pieces to the story, maybe you should better explain your reasoning.