Matt Rhule declines comment on arbitration suit against Carolina Panthers

As Nebraska prepared to finalize its recruiting class on National Signing Day, news broke that Matt Rhule was preparing to file an arbitration suit against the Carolina Panthers. During his press conference he broke his silence by, understandably, declining comment.

Rhule filed the lawsuit and claimed the Panthers didn’t give him his offset pay, which could be upward of $5 million. Carolina fired Rhule in October after less than three years in the role, and he filed suit over the compensation Jan. 25, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported Wednesday.

Because the suit is ongoing, Rhule said he couldn’t comment on the situation.

“I can’t comment on that,” Rhule told reporters. “I’m sorry. I understand you have to ask that, but I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Matt Rhule files arbitration suit against Carolina Panthers for offset pay

Jones broke the story Wednesday, saying Rhule alleges the Panthers are “refusing to pay” his severance after his decision to take the job at Nebraska. The lawsuit doesn’t specify the exact number for which Rhule is suing.

“Former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule filed an arbitration suit last week against the franchise, sources tell CBS Sports,” wrote Jones. “The suit claims the Panthers are refusing to pay Rhule’s severance compensation following his firing from Carolina and subsequent hiring at the University of Nebraska.

“In the suit, which was filed with the NFL on Jan. 25, Rhule seeks to receive the offset money he claims is due to him from the Panthers. According to sources, the suit doesn’t allege specifically how much money Rhule is seeking, but contract terms indicate there’s roughly $5 million in dispute.”

Moreover, John Singer — an employment attorney who filed the suit on behalf of Rhule with the league office — had no comment when reached, according to Jones. Additionally, the Panthers and the NFL also declined to comment.

While Rhule is now happily coaching in Lincoln, the Panthers made his replacement official, hiring former Indianapolis Colts leader Frank Reich last week. During the latter’s press conference, Panthers owner David Tepper took questions, where he called the hiring of Rhule “a mistake.”

On3’s Stephen Samra contributed to this report.