Carolina Panthers Launch Internal Investigation Into Team Owner Jerry Richardson Over Alleged ‘Workplace Misconduct’

No one is safe. Not even NFL team owners.

According to this, the Carolina Panthers have launched an internal investigation into 81-year-old team owner Jerry Richardson. For what? “Workplace misconduct.” It’s kind of vague, but given the climate we’re in, I think we have a pretty good idea of where this is going.

An outside firm is handling the investigation.

JUST IN: Carolina Panthers say internal investigation begun into “allegations of workplace misconduct” against team owner Jerry Richardson; investigation being led by an outside law firm, and overseen by limited team owner and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles.

— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) December 15, 2017

“The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct,” team spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement. “The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it.”

It’s a pretty vague statement. I suppose this could be about anything– not just “sexual misconduct.” I’m just conditioned to expect it to be about that.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera told ESPN.com that he’s going to withhold judgment on the situation until results of the investigation come in.

“I have had a strong relationship with Mr. Richardson during my time with the Panthers,” Rivera said. “I have enormous respect for the man, but will wait for the results of the investigation before making any judgment.”

Guess we’ll see…

h/t CBS Sports