Panthers coach: Steve Smith’s Cam Newton criticism should stay in house

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera says Steve Smith should not have taken to the press to criticize Cam Newton’s demeanor

The veteran receiver and five-time Pro Bowler called out Newton during the game for sitting alone on the bench rather than standing on the sideline. Rivera didn’t take exception necessarily with that conversation between his two players, but did say that Smith should not have told press about the incident.

“Whether you get criticized or you’re the one criticizing, you take it for what it is,” Rivera said Monday. “It’s a discussion. Honestly, I just wish it was a discussion that would have been kept between the two of them. I don’t think it needs to be out there. But that’s what happened, so I’ll leave it at that.”

Rivera had previously emphasized Smith’s right to deal with players as he sees fit, to a certain extent, as one of the team’s elected captains.