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CHARLOTTE https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/hats , N.C. (AP) The Carolina Panthers are being sold for an NFL-record $2.2 billion.Hedge fund manager David Tepper has agreed to buy the Panthers from team founder Jerry Richardson, two people familiar with the situation said Tuesday. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the sale.The purchase is subject to a vote at the NFL owners meeting next week in Atlanta.Richardson announced in December he was selling the team amid an NFL investigation into sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace. That decision came after a report by Sports Illustrated detailing Richardson’s alleged misconduct.The league’s investigation into the allegations is still ongoing.The price tag is the most ever paid for an NFL franchise, eclipsing the $1.4 billion the Pegula family paid to purchase the Buffalo Bills in 2014.Ben Navarro, the founder and CEO of Sherman Financial Group, was considered Tepper’s biggest competitor in the bid to purchase the Panthers. He conceded Tuesday that he’d lost the bid.”My family and I are grateful to have had the opportunity to be included as a potential buyer of one of the premier assets in all of the Carolinas – the Panthers football team,” Navarro said in an email to The Associated Press. ”It would have been a privilege to become the stewards of this iconic franchise to ensure its home remains in the Carolinas where it belongs, to establish a new era of leadership and excellence on and off the field, and to leverage the team’s NFL platform to further our quest to help all children gain access to a great education.”Tepper’s plans on whether the team will remain in Charlotte for the long-term future remain unclear.The Panthers are tied to their downtown stadium through the 2018 season because of an agreement with the city. After that a new owner is free to extend the lease to the stadium, build a new stadium or possibly move the team.Moving the Panthers out of Charlotte would seem to a longshot.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would prefer to keep the team in Charlotte where it has been successful. The Panthers have been one of the NFL’s best supported teams with only two non-sellout games since the team began playing its home games in Charlotte in 1996.Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Tepper Carolina Panthers Hoodie , 60, is a part owner of the Steelers and founder and president of Appaloosa Management, a global hedge fund based in Miami.Because he holds a 5 percent stake in the Steelers, Tepper’s finances already have been vetted by the league, meaning it wouldn’t take much for NFL owners to approve the sale. However, Tepper would have to sell his minority ownership stake of the Steelers, per league rules.Forbes listed Tepper’s net worth at $11.4 billion in February 2017.Tepper is known for his philanthropy.He donated $55 million to Carnegie Mellon University’s business school in 2013. Tepper graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon, where the Tepper School of Business is named after him.Richardson was the first and only majority of the Panthers. He became only the first former player since George Halas to become an NFL owner when he was awarded an expansion franchise in 1993. Richardson promised fans at the time the Panthers would win a Super Bowl ”within 10 years.” Carolina has reached the Super Bowl twice, including in 2015, but has never won.— CHARLOTTE Luke Kuechly Color Rush Jersey , N.C. (AP) — The good news for the Carolina Panthers is they return home Sunday to face the Seattle Seahawks where they've won 10 straight games.The bad news is it's highly unlikely the Panthers will play a playoff game in Charlotte, North Carolina, if they reach the postseason.The Seahawks (5-5) can relate. They and the Panthers (6-4) essentially find themselves competing for wild-card spots in the NFC with six games remaining given their chances of winning a division title and hosting a postseason game appear remote. Carolina has lost two straight on the road and fallen 3 ½ games behind New Orleans in the NFC South, while the Seahawks trail the Los Angeles Rams by 4 ½ games in the NFC West."Right now, we can't worry about what New Orleans is doing. We can't worry about the playoff picture. We just have to win a game," Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said. "In this league, it's so easy to get caught up in, ‘If this team wins, if this team loses, (then) we can have home-field (advantage). … Hey C.J. Anderson Jersey , if we don't win some games, we're not going to be in the playoffs."In terms of wild-card implications, this game looms as large as any in the NFC.Currently, the Panthers would be one wild-card team, while the Minnesota Vikings would be the other. But that could all change if the Seahawks continue their recent dominance over the Panthers.Russell Wilson is 5-2 against Cam Newton and Carolina.He has averaged 270.3 yards passing per game with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions. Newton, on the other hand, has struggled mightily against the Seahawks with nine turnovers and only five TD passes."They get after the quarterback," Newton said when asked of his struggles against the Seahawks. "That's what they do extremely well, and they're very opportunistic in that. You know what they're going to be in (defensively), they know you know what they're going to be in Russell Color Rush Shepard Jersey , but they just play so fast and rally around the football."Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wasn't giving any hints as to how his team intends to slow one of the game's most dangerous QBs."If I tell you, then that would help them, huh?" Carroll said.MORE OF MOORED.J. Moore has been looking increasingly more like Carolina's top receiver — and this week he may need to take on the role of No. 1 receiver with Devin Funchess listed as doubtful with a back injury that has kept him out of practice this week.Moore, the team's first-round draft pick, caught seven passes for 157 yards and a touchdown in Carolina's 20-19 loss to the Lions last week, including an 82-yard catch and run. Meanwhile, Funchess had a miserable game with five drops, including one in the end zone.If Funchess is out, the Seahawks can expect to see more of second-year wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who has been explosive in his limited playing time.SACK ATTACKFrank Clark is having a standout year in a contract season for the Seahawks. Clark has already tied his career high with 10 sacks with another six games to go. He has been a consistent threat off the edge and has seven sacks in the past five games.While Clark has been a menace Jordan Scarlett Jersey , Seattle is still seeking a complementary pass rusher to work with Clark. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is second on the team with 5 ½ sacks, but no other player has more than two.Seattle had five sacks of Aaron Rodgers, but Carroll warned Newton is a completely different challenge."I'm hoping that that will be a part again because if you noticed, we broke the pocket down and that's important to do with Cam as well because he can get out and really scorch you too," Carroll said.PRESSURING WILSONThe Panthers realize they need to get some pressure on Wilson and make him uncomfortable in the pocket.That hasn't been Carolina's strength this season as it ranks 23rd in the league in sacks entering the week with 23. Carolina isn't getting much penetration inside, where defensive tackle Kawann Short has gone nine straight games without a sack after registering two in the season opener against Dallas.Wilson is expecting a close game."We know these games against Carolina have always come down to the wire," Wilson said. "We have a lot of respect for how they play the game. They play the game the right way, they play the game fast and physical, they play the game smart."THREE-HEADED ATTACKSeattle has the top running game in the NFL and it continues to be a collaborative effort. Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Mike Davis all have had 100-yard games this season.Carson is clearly the primary ball carrier and had 17 carries for 83 yards in Seattle's win over Green Bay last week. But Penny has been earning more opportunities as his rookie year has progressed https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Christian-Miller-Jersey , and Davis was the closer for Seattle against the Packers as the one getting carries on the final drive.Seattle has rushed for at least 150 yards as a team in seven straight games.GOTTA GANOPanthers kicker Graham Gano missed an extra point and a field goal in Carolina's 20-19 loss to the Lions last week. So when coach Ron Rivera opted to go for 2 in the game's final seconds instead of tying the game, it appeared to show a lack of confidence in his veteran kicker.However, Gano returns home this week where he has made 39 straight field goals.__AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.__For more NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/NFL and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL