Source: Streeter Lecka / Getty
On Sunday night, the Carolina Panthers took on the Seattle Seahawks and lost the game 7-40. Many fans think the loss had something to do with Panthers star quarterback, Cam Newton, getting benched for a dress code violation.
Carolina Coach Ron Rivera benched Newton before the game for failing to wear a collared shirt and neck tie for Carolina’s flight to Seattle prior to facing the Seahawks. But Newton says the only reason he did not have a dress shirt is because the Panthers were on a long road trip after facing the Oakland Raiders the previous week.
However, Coach Rivera said he remains satisfied with his decision to bench the star quarterback. During a press conference after Sunday night’s game, he told reporters, “I’m very comfortable with it. Because the truth of the matter is I have to treat everybody the same. I really do. And that’s all that was. There’s no underlying message. There’s no feud. Because I’ve done this before. It’s just unfortunate that the guys that I’ve done it before weren’t the quarterback. I think that’s why it’s such a big deal. I think that’s quite honestly why it’s being made bigger than it really is. Because all I did was treat a player like I treat any other player.” Of course, fans of the team took to social media for comic relief after their star player was benched:
Sources caught footage of Rivera confronting Cam on Saturday at the Bay area hotel where the team was staying after playing Oakland. In the clip, Rivera got off his bus after the team boarded, went to Cam’s bus and pulled him off for a one on one conversation where he addressed the star’s attire. Cam said of the decision, “I didn’t follow dress code, and Coach told me I wasn’t going to start. I stand by his decision.”
In the press conference, Coach Rivera said that the team has moved on and i”s focused on next week’s opponent, the San Diego Chargers.” Hopefully, Cam remembers his tie.
