The Ron Rivera Era is all but over in Charlotte.

Here’s a business question. Say you just fulfilled an adult lifetime dream by purchasing an NFL team, which was picked to contend for the NFC South division. That team got off to a 6-2 start and visions of another Super Bowl appearance were dancing in its collective helmet.

Then that team lost six consecutive games and got knocked out of the playoffs. Mathematically, the Carolina Panthers could still get a wild-card berth by winning their last two against Atlanta and at New Orleans and getting some help, but that’s not happening after the discouraging defeat Monday night to the Saints at Bank of America Stadium.

Does new owner David Tepper keep coach Ron Rivera, who has an overall 73-59-1 record, or decide to his hire own man? Tepper will say a complete evaluation of the franchise will be made after the season, but he’s already compiling a list of candidates to take over a team that has missed expectations more than met them in Riverboat Ron’s tenure.

Cam Newton had one great MVP season when the Panthers reached Super Bowl 50 and lost to an ailing Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Newton has lost arm strength and he is no longer the dual threat now that he is not running the football like he did as a young pup. Age is showing up all over the roster, and Tepper will not let his first big move as owner go unmade.

Tepper is investing millions in a new practice facility just across the South Carolina border and now needs a shot of adrenaline pumped into the fan base before it softens like other losing NFL franchises. So he will replace Rivera, and that will be Tepper’s first test. Can he bring in a better coach than he is letting go after Rivera’s eighth season?

The 17-week NFL season is a grind, and only the Indianapolis Colts are truly trending up among the other 31 teams in the league. But the Panthers problems began in week nine, halfway through their schedule. Newton will be back because he is under contract and his trade value isn’t worth what it once was. Exciting players remain like Christian McCaffery and all-pro linebacker Luke Kuechly.

But the big Cats and their billionaire owner will have to find some other headline-makers, starting with a new head coach.

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