Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson announced Sunday that he would put his team up for sale at the end of the season after the National Football League said it was opening an investigation into accusations of workplace misconduct against him.
"I believe that it is time to turn the franchise over to new ownership," Richardson, 81, said in a statement on the team's website. "Therefore, I will put the team up for sale at the end of this NFL season."
Two days ago, the team said it was conducting an internal investigation into Richardson's conduct, but did not specify the nature of the allegations. Sports Illustrated says they include sexual harassment of multiple female employees and a racial slur.
Since Richardson's announcement, rapper and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs and professional Golden State Warriors professional basketball player Stephen Curry have expressed interest on Twitter in buying the team, bringing on free agent Colin Kaepernick– the football player who instigated the NFL player kneeling protests against social injustices in 2016 – as "competition" to the Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton. But Richardson said he will not "entertain" any buyers' interests until the season is over.
"We will not begin the sale process, nor will we entertain any inquiries, until the very last game is played," Richardson stated.
The Carolina Panthers team has been valued at more than $2 billion, especially given its recent winning streak and successful 2017 season so far overall. Richardson became the first former NFL player since George Halas to own an NFL team. He was awarded the Panthers as an expansion franchise on Oct. 26, 1993, with the team beginning play in 1995. Richardson was under fire in 2014, when he initially allowed Greg Hardy to play through domestic violence charges.
Richardson did not mention the claims of his workplace misconduct in his statement.
