The Panthers have reinstated interim general manager Marty Hurney after an NFL investigation found no wrongdoing into charges of harassment by his ex-wife.
Hurney had been on a paid leave of absence during the investigation.
He is one of four candidates who have interviewed for the team’s permanent general manager position John Kelly Jersey Elite , which is expected to be filled soon.
Article continues below ... The NFL said in a statement Friday that its ”investigation identified no evidence to support an allegation of domestic violence or similar conduct that would constitute a violation of the personal conduct policy.”
The league said it requested to talk to his ex-wife Jeannie Hurney, but that she declined.
Marty Hurney said in a statement through his attorney that he’s ”grateful” to be headed back to work after what he called ”false claims” by his ex-wife.
His attorney, Kathleen Lucchesi, told The Associated Press in an email Friday Hurney was headed back to work immediately to begin preparations for the NFL draft and free agency.
Hurney’s interim contract is set to expire June 30.
”It’s been a very long two weeks for Marty and his family,” Lucchesi said in a statement emailed to AP. ”In this digital age, it’s nearly impossible to overcome suspicion, defend yourself, and clear your name once the court of public opinion gets a hold of a false narrative. The public scrutiny can be devastating and unrelenting. In this case, it was also unnecessary.
”Words cannot express how thankful Marty is for the love and unwavering support of his family. He is grateful to the NFL for conducting a thorough investigation. He is also grateful for the continued confidence and support of the Panthers organization. Marty is looking forward to getting back to the work of building a strong and successful Panthers team for the 2018 season.”
The NFL said its investigation included a review of available law enforcement and court records, sworn testimony in prior proceedings Cheap Brian O'Neill Jersey , and interviews of multiple people including Hurney.
The Panthers placed Hurney on paid administrative leave on Feb. 4 when the NFL began an investigation into whether Hurney violated the league’s personal conduct policy after Jeannie Hurney unsuccessfully requested a temporary restraining order alleging her ex-husband harassed her.
Hurney remarried in 2016 and has a 14-month old child at home.
At that time Lucchesi told AP in an email that Hurney was ”very upset” by the allegations ”first, because they are not true, and second, because she made them at a time she and the rest of Charlotte knew Marty was interviewing for the GM job with the Panthers.”
The Panthers brought Hurney back to be their interim general manager last July after then-owner Jerry Richardson fired Dave Gettleman days before the start of training camp to provide some stability in the organization.
Hurney was the Panthers GM from 1998 through 2012 and is credited for building the core of a team that reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
Along with Hurney, the Panthers have also interviewed Bills assistant college scouting director Lake Dawson, Texans assistant general manager Jimmy Raye III and 49ers senior personnel executive Martin Mayhew for its permanent GM position.
—
After snapping the longest losing streak of his career in his previous start, Marcus Stroman went straight back to struggling.
Todd Frazier hit a two-run homer, Brandon Nimmo reached base three times and the New York Mets beat Marcus Stroman and the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Wednesday night.
Stroman (1-6) lost six straight decisions before beating Detroit last Friday but couldn’t build on that performance. He allowed six runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, raising his ERA from 6.02 to 6.50.
”I just didn’t have a feel for anything from pitch one,” Stroman said.
Frazier gave the Mets the lead with a drive to center field off the right-hander in a five-run fifth.
Now in his fifth season Myles Garrett Browns Jersey , Stroman was expected to be a steadying presence in Toronto’s rotation. Instead, he has dealt with a sore shoulder that sidelined him for more than a month, and been hit hard when healthy enough to pitch.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway, a former pitcher and pitching coach, said location is at the root of Stroman’s rough stretch.
”Everything is just up a little bit from what I’ve seen in the past,” Callaway said. ”I think, from a pitching coach’s perspective, for him to have his good sinker and his good slider, he’s got to make sure he gets the ball down. That’s kind of how he lived in the past and what his success was all about, getting guys to chase below the zone.”
Former teammate Jose Bautista flied out in his first two at-bats against Stroman but delivered an RBI single in the fifth.
”His stuff was moving Youth Su'a Cravens Jersey , he just wasn’t locating as well as I’ve seen him do in the past from the outfield,” Bautista said.
Stroman, from Long Island, had never faced the Mets before.
Seth Lugo (3-3) pitched three innings of relief for the win. Jeurys Familia closed for his 16th save in 20 opportunities.
Wilmer Flores had two hits and Kevin Plawecki scored twice for the Mets, who had lost 11 of 13.
Toronto’s Kendrys Morales hit a solo home run in the second but the Mets answered on Nimmo’s RBI single in the third. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. restored Toronto’s lead with a two-out RBI single in the fourth before Stroman unraveled in the fifth.
Flores led off with a single and scored on Frazier’s 10th home run. Bautista and Asdrubal Cabrera chased Stroman with consecutive RBI singles, and Michael Conforto capped the outburst with a run-scoring single off reliever Luis Santos.
Making his second major league career start, New York right-hander Corey Oswalt allowed two runs and five hits in four innings.
”That’s a good leap forward for him,” Callaway said. ”He looked a lot better.”
LOOK OUT BELOW
Mets relievers Tyler Bashlor, Jerry Blevins and Robert Gsellman, and outfielder Kevin Kaczmarksi Authentic DJ Chark Jersey , ascended Toronto’s CN Tower earlier in the day for the Edge Walk attraction, which lets visitors circle the exterior of the observation deck. The tower’s official Twitter account posted a photo of the quartet.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (right index finger) will make a rehab start for Class A Brooklyn on Sunday. … C Devin Mesoraco passed concussion tests again but was not in the starting lineup. Mesoraco was hit in the head in back-to-back innings Tuesday, once by a ball and once by a bat. … RHP Zack Wheeler will get an extra day of rest before his next start. Wheeler will be pushed back to Monday, when the Mets play a doubleheader against Philadelphia.
Blue Jays: An MRI on RHP Marco Estrada revealed a mild strain in his left gluteal muscle. Estrada left Tuesday’s start after just 12 pitches. It was not yet known whether he’ll be placed on the disabled list. … RHP Preston Guilmet was designated for assignment and LHP Tim Mayza was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto selected Santos and RHP Rhiner Cruz from Triple-A. … RHP Seunghwan Oh was available after missing Tuesday’s game because of flu-like symptoms.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (5-4) pitches Friday night at home against Tampa Bay. The right-hander leads the majors with a 1.84 ERA but has lost four of his past five starts despite not allowing more than three earned runs in any of them. Tampa Bay is expected to open with right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek (1-2, 1.98).
Blue Jays: RHP Sam Gaviglio (2-2, 3.97) goes Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees. Gaviglio is 0-2 with a 4.78 ERA in six outings since winning his first start for Toronto. RHP Sonny Gray (5-6, 5.44) starts for New York.