Panthers Owner Had Great Explanation for Why He Hired Matt Rhule

Hiring a head coach in the NFL requires an extensive process complete with interviews, scouting, phone calls etc. Every detail must be delved through in order make a decision of that magnitude, and the keys to some of the NFL's most highly monetized franchises are not easily acquired. Or so you might think.

Former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule was just handed his own keys to the Carolina Panthers, and his negotiation price was a hefty one to say the least --seven years, $60 million. According to Panthers' owner David Tepper, the decision-making process in signing on Rhule was an easy one, and it didn't come with a ton of statistical analysis.

In Tepper's own words, Rhule "dresses like (expletive) and sweats all over himself. He dresses like me, so I have to love the guy." Tepper went on jokingly, "I was a short-order cook; he was a short-order cook. Nobody gave him anything, nobody gave me anything. He had to work hard for everything he got."

I think the hard-working attribute holds more weight than the short-order cook part. But Tepper clearly sees a lot of himself in Rhule, and thus was impressed with him during the interview process.

Rhule had the numbers in the college ranks to back the hiring up, although $60 million is an astoundingly large lump sum. He is the first hire for Tepper and the Panthers' new ownership group, and they're hopeful the hefty price tag will be merely an afterthought of the success he achieves with the team.

For now, it looks like the "smock" is paying dividends for Rhule. Don't be surprised if Tepper is seen rocking one pretty soon.