Carolina Panthers Owner Has Every Right to Direct Appearance of Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers owner, Jerry Richardson, is coming under intense scrutiny for expecting Cam Newton to avoid tattoos and piercings.

Based on standard employment practices, Richardson has every right to hold Newton to this standard.  The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld that companies can hire based on certain types of appearance.  Employers are also supported in firing employees for having exposed tattoos.

This isn't an issue of archaic standards or keeping a public figure from free expression.  On the contrary, Cam Newton was drafted to be the face of a franchise that represents a part of a near-$10 billion industry.

In a meeting on April 4th, which was the equivalent of a job interview, Richardson acknowledged Newton's professional appearance.  Richardson told PBS' Charlie Rose that Newton "was dressed perfectly."  

Interested in Newton’s appearance, he inquired if Newton had any tattoos.  

Richardson stated "He said, ‘No, sir.  I don’t have any.’"  The same question and response followed on the issue of piercings.  “We want to keep no tattoos, no piercings," Richardson added.  "And I think you’ve got a very nice haircut.” 

Richardson also asked "are you calling me sir because you're trying to impress me?"

"I'm calling you sir because that's the way I was raised," Newton said.  This side of Newton provides a glimpse of a respectable young man, even though he is often portrayed differently.

Major companies, under which NFL teams surely falls, have the court-protected right to set expectations for their employees' appearance and public behavior.  The expectation was set for Newton to be a clean-cut face of the franchise and Richardson is well protected in his expectation for that to continue.

Some claim Richardson is being hypocritical, as they signed the highly-tattooed Jeremy Shockey.  Richardson has stated "I'm not a choirboy. I've never said I was, and I don't want a roster of 53 choirboys."

He added that he told Shockey: "Don't change your personality. It'll be good for the team. I could do without the tattoos, though."

At issue here are the expectations for different levels of employees.  While an extreme example, the professional appearance for Frederick Smith, CEO of FedEx, will be different than what is expected of a laborer that loads trucks.

In similar fashion, Newton is being asked to be the face of the organization.  He is needed to draw corporate support and the endorsement of the fan-base.  

As old-school as Richardson is, there are plenty of potential corporate sponsors that share his views.  While perceptions are most certainly changing, a Careerbuilders study showed that over 40 percent of managers would have a lowered opinion of someone with tattoos, seeing it as a sign of immaturity.  

The parents of the potential fan base are also an issue.  Those sharing Richardson's view will more readily support the team with a respectable man leading the franchise, leading to higher attendance and increased jersey sales.

Newton presented himself to Richardson as a clean-cut product in the job interview.  That is what Richardson drafted.  

He has every right to expect that to continue.