Panthers columnist addresses Greg Olsen, Bill Belichick rumors

Longtime Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler isn't buying rumors linking former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick with Carolina after Panthers owner David Tepper fired Frank Reich this past Monday. 

"That’s a fun story, but I don’t think so," Fowler said about the Olsen rumors while speaking with Michael Grant of Awful Announcing. "I think Greg would do a good job because he’s so smart. He would bring in a lot of people around him, but no. I don’t think David Tepper can take that risk right now because he’s failed on his first two coaching hires. I think the next one is more of the typical hotshot young offensive coordinator."

The Athletic's Joseph Person and Richard Deitsch noted earlier this week that Olsen possesses zero coaching experience at the pro or college levels. While it makes sense Olsen could be interested in the Carolina gig considering he's about to lose his spot as Fox's lead NFL analyst to Tom Brady, that doesn't mean Tepper would embrace such an outside-the-box hire. 

As for Belichick, both Ben Volin of the Boston Globe and former Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton believe Tepper could make a move to land the 71-year-old who guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles alongside the previously mentioned Brady. Fowler isn't sold on the idea. 

"I don’t think it would work out here," Fowler told Grant about a possible Belichick-Panthers marriage. "I don’t know that Belichick would want to come. I just don’t know their relationship." 

The fact that Tepper publicly backed rookie quarterback Bryce Young during a Tuesday news conference indicates Carolina's new head coach will be tasked with fixing whatever has ailed Young during his debut pro season. Logic suggests Belichick wouldn't be interested in taking such a project on at this point in his life, but Tepper theoretically could make the legendary coach a "Godfather offer" Belichick can't refuse.