Cam Newton isn’t buying Richard Sherman’s ‘karma’ comments over the 12th Man banner

After the Panthers defeated the Seahawks in the 2015 NFC Divisional round in Charlotte, Cam Newton crumbled up a Seattle fan’s 12 flag and thew it.

Newton went on a victory lap, and a fan handed him the flag.

Richard Sherman said the gesture Newton made is a reason Carolina may not make the playoffs. “I guess karma gets you. It doesn’t look like you’re going to be in the playoffs this year.”

Newton wasn’t buying it.

He deflected the comment on Thursday. Newton disagreed with Sherman and said it had nothing to do with karma. “I have a lot of respect for Richard and I don’t think that has nothing to do with karma that another opposing team’s flag was in my stadium. Simple.”

Newton was involved in a similar incident earlier that season.

Following a 37-29 victory against the Green Bay Packers in Charlotte, Newton took a banner out of the hands of some Packers fans. He then folded it up and placed it in a walkway under the stadium. There were reports that Newton “tore up the banner” in the Panthers’ locker room. It kicked off one of the dumbest sports controversies of the year.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera also doesn’t agree with Sherman’s comments. He said the veteran cornerback was “just trying to create a little something.”

Carolina (4-7) and Seattle (7-3-1) will clash at CenturyLink Field for a Week 13 showdown on Sunday Night Football.