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Jerry Richardson's decision to skip owners meetings for shoulder surgery shouldn't be big issue

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Conspiracy theories abound about why Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is not attending this week’s NFL owners meetings.

They appear to be just that, theories.

First, team officials said Richardson is not attending because he plans to have shoulder surgery Monday or Tuesday.

The pain in Richardson’s shoulder escalated recently and, upon returning from a retirement party for longtime NFL executive Joe Brown, it was suggested he have surgery.

Because there are no urgent matters to vote on at these meetings, which run through Wednesday, there was no reason for Richardson to sit in pain through committee meetings that last several hours at a time.