Cam Newton played for almost the entire game on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks. But the Carolina Panthers raised eyebrows when Derek Anderson, not Newton, was under center for the start of the game.
Cam Newton admits he was benched for not wearing a tie
Newton also said that his lack of neckwear was not the reason the Panthers lost 40-7 to the Seahawks.
Carolina Panthers
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
After the 40-7 loss, Newton confirmed reports that he was benched by head coach Ron Rivera for not wearing a tie.
“I didn’t follow dress code, and coach told me that I wasn’t going to start, so I stand by his decision,” Newton told reporters after the game.
Newton was wearing a black turtleneck during the team’s travel on the Saturday prior to the game.
When asked if he thought his attire was appropriate, despite being against dress code, Newton had a very simple answer.
“If Coach doesn’t feel like I was dressed appropriate, then I wasn’t,” Newton said.
The Panthers have been in northern California since before Carolina’s Week 12 loss to the Raiders in Oakland, and Newton said the extended time on the road contributed to his dress code drama.
“Well, when you’re 6’5, trying to get a shirt — I was away from home for a week. I didn’t pack a shirt,” Newton said. “It was a lot of ties I was given, but I can’t wear a tie with this, meaning I’d have a tank top on.”
Newton said he thought his outfit was up to dress code standards, because he has worn something nearly identical in the past.
“I feel as if I wore a similar outfit like this before and nothing was done,” Newton said. “But (Rivera) said he has rules in place and we have to abide by them, and no person is greater than the next person, and it is what it is.”
Rivera confirmed after the game that he had made the decision to bench Newton for a “travel dress code violation,” according to Max Henson of Panthers.com.
Newton made one thing clear — this situation isn’t the reason the Panthers lost to the Seahawks.
“We didn’t lose this game because of a tie,” Newton said.
Newton was benched for the opening series, which ended up being just one play. Anderson threw an interception on his very first pass of the evening. Newton finished 14 of 32 for 182 yards and a touchdown in the blowout loss.
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