Jerry Richardson to Cam: No Tattoos, No Piercings

[Johnny Rockets]

If this article from PFT is correct (which I doubt) .

Take it for what it's worth but apparently Jerry said it on TV....

http://mike-freeman.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6264363/31514743

I had forgotten about this and was reminded after reading an item in Profootballtalk.com. Now, I remember just how arrogantly owner Jerry Richardson behaved when he met quarterback Cam Newton.

Let me explain. In a recent television interview Richardson recalled his interview with Newton. At one point he told Newton: "Do you have any tattoos? He said, ‘No, sir. I don’t have any.’ I said, ‘Do you have any piercings?’ He said, ‘No, sir. I don’t have any.’ I said, ‘We want to keep it that way..."

“We want to keep no tattoos, no piercings, and I think you’ve got a very nice haircut," said Richardson.

[CRA]

JR must not think too highly of this guy then:

If this article from PFT is correct (which I doubt) we should assume JR doesnt approve of what DeAngelo Williams looks like. We should probably assume DeAngelo is a bad person too.

nah, PFT took a comment and turned it into something it isn't.

Cam came in a polished All American type guy.....Jerry would prefer he stay that way. Doesn't mean Jerry thinks less of Steve Smith.....who we know is his homie.

[Floppin]

JR must not think too highly of this guy then:

If this article from PFT is correct (which I doubt) we should assume JR doesnt approve of what DeAngelo Williams looks like. We should probably assume DeAngelo is a bad person too.

Just because he would prefer that the face of his franchise maintain an old fashioned wholesome image doesn't mean that he expressly disapproves of tattoos and the like.

[jtm]

This isn't about what he thinks about individual people; this is all about Marketing. No question that "clean cut" guys get a lot more in endorsements. Plus, Cam needs to rebuild his reputation a bit.

Tiger Woods gets around $105 million a year which is light years ahead of every other athlete. Keep working hard Cam.

[Dpantherman]

We did this already.

[King Taharqa]

Just because he would prefer that the face of his franchise maintain an old fashioned wholesome image doesn't mean that he expressly disapproves of tattoos and the like.

Michael Vick had cornrows and was the highest paid player in the NFL and had a HUGE contract from Nike. Larry Fitzgerald has dreads and just got QB money from AZ, and has endorsements with Nike as well. Truth be told, nothing wrong with clean cut and Cam is a guy that isnt into all that other stuff, but Charlotte is one of the few markets that is anal about it. This wouldnt even be a story or care in NY, ATL, LA. I dont think they're tripping off "image" like this in those markets. I think letting a statement get out like this is a slippery slope because they're players on the payroll who fit that bill and there are fans who have "tatts and piercings" who support the Panthers.

[CRA]

Michael Vick had cornrows and was the highest paid player in the NFL and had a HUGE contract from Nike. Larry Fitzgerald has dreads and just got QB money from AZ, and has endorsements with Nike as well. Truth be told, nothing wrong with clean cut and Cam is a guy that isnt into all that other stuff, but Charlotte is one of the few markets that is anal about it. This wouldnt even be a story or care in NY, ATL, LA. I dont think they're tripping off "image" like this in those markets. I think letting a statement get out like this is a slippery slope because they're players on the payroll who fit that bill and there are fans who have "tatts and piercings" who support the Panthers.

people are taking this all too literal.

There is a difference between Larry Fitz and say a Steve Smith/Jeremy Shockey. JR would be fine if Cam presented himself like Fitz. JR was really paying Cam a compliment in his own way......NOT so much as telling Cam what he can't do. Jez.....

[SCP]

Michael Vick had cornrows and was the highest paid player in the NFL and had a HUGE contract from Nike. Larry Fitzgerald has dreads and just got QB money from AZ, and has endorsements with Nike as well.

I get what you are saying KT. But look at the bigger endorsement pie. There are billions of dollars to be had out there outside of Nike and Under Armour. Who knows how many more companies outside of Nike would have given Vick endorsement deals if he was clean cut like Cam. American Express and Tiger Woods (pre-scandal of course) for example.

[bleys]

I had to take my ear piercing out years ago when I got involved with sales.. no visible tats.

please, let's stop the madness and stop making this out to be more than it is..

[Panthro]

Steinbrenner says no beards.

[JJT]

Gonna have to disagree with jerry on this one. Cam is going to be the face of the franchise for what 10-15 years? Cam will be cam newton for the rest of his life. If he wants to get whatever he wants its his right to. Let the man enjoy his youth, i understand he is representing the carolina panthers but, he has a right to be who ever he wants to be when he's not on the field.

If it pisses off a few red blooded american then so be it. The fact that he's not allowed to grow dreadlock or have ear rings and such just seems so 40s and 50s. Seems like they want cam to jig and jive to there drum to please a certain audience. Who are we to tell him to be something he doesn't want to be. What if he was gay? I guess that was in the pre-employment screening. Cause being gay would tarnish the good ole boys image.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

[Johnny Rockets]

Steinbrenner says no beards.

Well....he used to.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Lol. Isn't this the norm for most any company?

[Mother Grabber]

Smitty has been out in the front of our franchise for years, and I believe he has a small tattoo of a bunny on his left ankle.