Fired former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule recently told reporters that he wanted to add 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to the team’s draft board but got “vetoed,” video from KETV’s Matt Foster shows.
Speaking to the press from the podium at his new job as head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Rhule told reporters “When I was in the draft room at Carolina, I brought his name up. I said he should be on the draft board. I got vetoed on that one.”
Rhule noted that he coached against Purdy while the two were in the Big 12, Rhule as the head coach of the Baylor Bears and Purdy as the signal caller for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Turns out Matt Rhule had a strong interest in drafting Brock Purdy while he was Head Coach of the Panthers.
“When I was in the draft room at Carolina, I brought his name up. I said he should be on the draft board. I got vetoed on that one.”#SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/Fqr3LJfMRr
— Matt Foster (@MattFosterTV) February 7, 2024
He also told a funny anecdote about how he constantly warned his players against falling for Purdy’s pump fake but claimed they often fell for it anyway.
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 20: Linebacker Brian Asamoah #24 of the Oklahoma Sooners knocks the ball out of the hands of quarterback Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones for a fumble recovered by Purdy in the second quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Brian Bahr/Getty Images
STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor University Bears grins as he heads onto the field after beating the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 19, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Baylor stayed undefeated with a 45-27 road win. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 07: Brock Purdy #13 speaks to the media during San Francisco 49ers media availability ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa on February 07, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 05: Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers (L) and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs stand on stage during Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night at Allegiant Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
“We used to tell our guys when we were playing Brock Purdy ‘do not, do not, fall for his pump fake,’ right? Brock would come out and pump fake. First game, he gets ten yards down the field, he pump fakes, our DBs are jumping, I’m like ‘he’s past the line of scrimmage,'” Rhule said laughing. “So, a lot of respect for Brock.”
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears reacts to a play during the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
I’m not surprised Rhule was … over-Rhuled.
The Panthers, in my opinion, have been the most poorly run franchise in the NFL since owner David Tepper purchased the franchise in 2018. (RELATED: New Panthers Owner Called Trump ‘Demented, Narcissistic, And A Scumbag’)
In the last year alone Tepper’s Panthers have traded star D.J. Moore and a first-rounder for quarterback Bryce Young, who at best looks like the second-best QB in his class next to Rookie of the Year favorite C.J. Stroud.
He also fired head coach Frank Reich in the middle of the season and, rather than replace him with one of the many accomplished skippers on the market like Bill Belichick or Mike Vrabel, he opted to bring in a rookie head coach in Dave Canales.
AMES, IA – NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Matt Campbell of the Iowa State Cyclones, right, shakes hands with head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears after winning 28-10 over Baylor at Jack Trice Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones won 28-14 over the Baylor Bears. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers scrambles against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Levi’s Stadium on January 14, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 07: Brock Purdy #13 throws during San Francisco 49ers practice ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Fertitta Football Complex on February 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
While the jury is still out on Canales (and I believe we should give him a fair shake before judging him), there’s no denying that he’s extremely green. His past season spent as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was his first and only year as a coordinator. All this while the greatest coach to ever do it is still available.
Tepper’s dysfunction extends off the field, too. In December the billionaire investor was caught throwing a drink at a member of an opposing fanbase, unacceptable behavior from your average six-year-old, let alone one of the most powerful men in sports. (RELATED: Panthers Owner David Tepper Looks Set To Make Yet Another Braindead Move)
The NFL fined him $300,000 for the incident. So he’s childish, immature, makes bad hiring decisions … oh and his team also sucks. The Panthers haven’t had a winning season since he took over, bottoming out as the worst team in the league this year at 2-14.
Sorry Panthers fans, you’re in for a long tenure with this guy. Good friggin luck.