Panthers owner Jerry Richardson made news this week when it was revealed that he asked his No. 1 draft pick, Cam Newton, to stay clear of tattoos and body piercings. It seems that the Big Cat wants his rookie quarterback to retain a wholesome image.

Was that O.K. to do?

In this new feature we call Bar Room Brawl, Qcitymetro editor Glenn Burkins debates Qcity sports fanatic Victor Earl:

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Victor: This situation reminds me of the book “Forty Million Dollar Slaves,” which depicts a lot of African American athletes who are being controlled by the teams they play for regarding their personal lives, what they can and cannot do, who they can and cannot be around and how they need to dress and carry themselves. Yes, they should conduct themselves a certain way in society, but it shouldn’t be dictated by the person who gives them their paychecks.
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Glenn: I gotta tell you, Victor, to compare these rich athletes to slaves is to do a disservice to the Africans who were actually brought here in chains. It's a great title to sell books and all, but still... These players are in no way suffering, and they certainly don't need our sympathy. I’ve never seen a bus pull up to an NFL stadium and disgorge a load of unwilling players. If anything, it seems that every kid in America with size or speed dreams of going pro and signing a fat contract.
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Victor: Yes, but going pro should not mean being controlled by an owner. Besides, tattoos and body piercings are no big deal these days. I was in the bank the other day and saw a teller with tattoos. So if a bank teller can be tattooed up, why can't a grown a-- man in the National Football League?
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Glenn: Well good for the bank. These athletes are in the NFL. They can leave at any time to accept a $30,000 job behind a teller’s window, or whatever the job pays. Or, as the woman in the movie “Hollywood Shuffle” said: “There’s always work at the post office."
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Victor: My problem with Jerry Richardson is this: He already has players on the team --  stars and starters, such as Steve Smith -- who have tattoos. As quarterback, Cam will be throwing to a receiver who’s covered in tattoos. You might even say it amounts to age discrimination. The players who are older are being grandfathered, more or less, with the tattoos they have. In a court of law, I’m certain that this would not hold up and Jerry Richardson would lose.
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Glenn: I’m no lawyer so I can’t say whether it amounts to age discrimination. I’m not even prepared to say that it was a smart thing to do. All I’m saying is that Jerry Richardson, as owner of the Panthers, is paying Cam Newton $6 million a year, and when you’re paying someone that kind of money to be the face of your team, you might want that person to project a certain image.
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Editor's Note: We at Qcitymetro are always trying new concepts.Tell us what you think of the Bar Room Brawl. Would you like to see other topics debated? Perhaps you'd like to submit your name (and the name of a friend) for future brawls. Email editor@qcitymetro.com. But most important, tell us in the comments section below who won this fight.

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