I'm not the I told you so type. I take pride in avoiding vengance as a primary religious belief. I kept sharing my opinion and kept being told that we were looking for an offensive mind to lead us forward. Key word there is lead not offensive.

The Carolina Panthers' decision to hire Frank Reich as their head coach has proven to be a costly mistake, wasting at least a year of progress, draft capital, and damaging the team's honor. Owner David Tepper's insistence on hiring a former career backup quarterback, who was recently thouroughly vetted and then afterwards released by his last team, has disrupted the team's chemistry and derailed their plans for long-term success.

Under the leadership of coach Steve Wilks, the Panthers had built a strong foundation, with a clear plan in place for sustained success. The team had developed a perfect blend of NFL football chemistry, with a cohesive unit that was poised for a decade of relevance. Wilks proved that he could motivate anyone to be their personal best, which is rare and practically the only quality a Head Coach needs to embody. However, Tepper's misguided and clearly uninformed decision to bring in Reich to replace a clearly excellent coach has thrown a wrench into the works, undoing all the progress that had been made.

Reich, an obvious second or third option for the job, was hired despite his lackluster credentials. Known to be a great guy and yes, the Panthers first QB, his previous stint as a head coach ended in disappointment, and his inability to lead a team to success was evident. Yet, Tepper chose to ignore these warning signs, opting instead to bring in a coach who was not the right fit for the team, in spite of the warnings of people who understand real leadership. Some people have been spoiled with monetary or bought respect and struggle to see the reality that exists in front of them. Real respect is hard to define buts it's easy to see, for some.

The consequences of this decision have been severe and embarassing for all the Carolinas. The Panthers have wasted at least a year of progress, with the team's performance suffering as a result of Reich's ineffective leadership. They ruined our chance to have a real NFL coach that could endure and give our the franchise what we have always hoped for, we had it, we were there. Effort and planning don't slump. Anyone who ever saw Coach Wilks in a postgame talk in the locker room knows. They were truly amazing and inspirational. David tepper even played a huge role in a great Panthers locker room moment. What a shame his eyes and ears were closed and his ego put that smile on his face instead. Most damaging, however, has been the impact on the team's honor and reputation.

The Panthers, once a proud and respected franchise, have been reduced to a laughingstock under Tepper's ownership. The team's commitment to excellence has been replaced with a culture of mediocrity, with the hiring of Reich serving as a stark reminder of the owner's cluelessness. The team's draft capital, which could have been used to bolster the roster and build for the future, has been squandered on poorly conceived moves and the team has traded our stars like they were a dime a dozen, again clueless behavior and a shame these people have been allowed to run an NFL Franchise.

In conclusion, the Panthers' decision to hire Frank Reich has been a disaster, wasting at least a year of progress, draft capital, and damaging the team's honor. It is time for Tepper to take responsibility for his mistakes. He won't because he's not capable.

I wish the new Coach success and luck when available. Coach Wilks is still out there. Our new young coach could sure use a real Panthers coach as a mentor for this season and fix the locker room vibe Tepper wiped his backside with. Coach Canales looks like the real deal and none of this is his fault. I hope things go well for him.

This team needs a renewed commitment to building a winning culture, and we could have it. To bad our teams leaders decided to play the lottery instead of securing a successful future when it was offered on a platter and at an extreme discount. Anything less would be another betrayal of the team's loyal fan base and a continuation of the downward spiral that has plagued the franchise under Tepper's ownership.