Cam Newton Explains Dress Code Violation That Led To Benching In Panthers’ 40-7 Loss To Seahawks

Cam Newton was benched for the Carolina Panthers’ first offensive play Sunday night because he failed to wear a tie on the team’s flight from northern California to Seattle on Friday.

Cam Newton Explains Dress Code Violation That Led To Benching In Panthers’ 40-7 Loss To Seahawks

Panthers coach Ron Rivera requires his players to wear neckties on team flights.

“It was a travel dress-code violation,” Rivera said after the game. “So we said, let’s treat him like I do all the other players on the team, and he didn’t start.”

However, Newton explained, it was really about the shirt.

The Panthers (4-8) fell to the Seahawks (8-3-1) 40-7 in Seattle on Sunday night.

At the post-game press conference, Newton explained that the problem was that he failed to pack a collared dress shirt that would accommodate a tie for the team’s extended West Coast trip that began with last week’s game at Oakland against the Raiders.

Newton was offered the chance to borrow a tie, but he still needed a collared shirt. On short notice, he said he couldn’t find a dress shirt that fit his 6-foot-5, 245-pound body.

Veteran Derek Anderson started the game in Newton’s place, and threw an interception on the first play of the game. Seahawks linebacker Mike Morgan returned the pick to the 8-yard line, and Seattle rapidly went up 3-0. Newton finished 14 of 31 for 182 yards and one touchdown.

“We didn’t lose this game because of a tie, you know what I’m saying?” Newton said. “I felt like I wore a similar outfit to this before and nothing was said, but [Rivera] has rules in place, and I have to abide by them. No person is greater than the next person.”

Newton was dressed in a matching black turtleneck and hat with a dark gray coat.

Carolina has struggled this season, after going 15-1 last year and reaching the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers, who are fourth in NFC South, next host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. The Seahawks will visit the Green Bay Packers that day.

SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 4, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)