David Tepper stands by Panthers' decision to pick Bryce Young - ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper never gave a reason for why he fired coach Frank Reich during a 14-minute news conference Tuesday, but he did stand by the team's decision to draft quarterback Bryce Young with the top pick and defended his perceived lack of patience.

Reich was fired Monday with a 1-10 record, and critics suggested the Panthers made a mistake in drafting Young in April over C.J. Stroud, who is having an MVP-type season after being selected No. 2 by the Houston Texans.

While Tepper deflected from answering most questions, he didn't hesitate to support the decision to select Young, who is 1-9 as the starter and ranked next to last among qualified quarterbacks in Total QBR at 32.3.

«Now, look, everything that's right here, everything that's wrong here, ultimately it's my fault,'' he said. „I've got the final say. But as far as those decisions, whether it's Frank Reich or it's Bryce Young, those decisions were made.

“And in the case of Bryce it was almost… I believe it was a unanimous decision from the coaches and the scouts. And very strong opinions at the time.''

Tepper added that he was „totally confident in agreeing with that pick.“

Reich, hired in January for his offensive prowess, has been adamant he wanted Young all along despite reports he wanted Stroud. He supported, as did Tepper, the decision to trade two first-round picks and star wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears for the top pick.

»Originally, we thought we were going to the No. 2 pick, and we thought we'd get C.J.,'' Tepper said. «We thought the Texans were going to take Bryce. And listen, we preferred Bryce. He was our No. 1 choice. We had a lot of conviction.''

Tepper also took time to explain that despite his