Carolina Panthers quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton continues to be the subject of criticism and debate around the football world.
The enigmatic signal caller was benched for the opening of Carolina’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night for violating the team’s dress code after refusing to wear a tie.
Needless to say, there’s been a wide array of opinions on this situation. And like he has done throughout his post-football career, former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann chimed in.
“I think it’s important that discipline applies to everybody on a football team … if you’re asked to dress in a certain way, you’re a professional. It’s your job. You’re the leader of the football team. You do what the coach asks,” Theismann said on The Jason Smith show on Fox Sports Radio.” I mean, what kind of a big deal is it?”
Theismann’s point is clear here. The Super Bowl champion believe that there are a set of rules NFL coaches lay down on their players. And for the leader of a team to attempt to practically undermine his coach in the manner that Newton did is not a good look.
“Cam Newton. You know, he’s a good kid. He’s an effervescent kid. He’s a spoiled brat is what he really is,” Theismann continued.
Well, Joe, tell us how you really feel.
Ron Rivera’s dress code may seem ridiculous. But it’s no different from the dress codes companies have for their employees. If Newton has an issue with that, it’s entirely on him.
At 4-8 on the season, Carolina doesn’t need this type of drama to surround it off the field. It paints the defending NFC champs and their star quarterback in a bad light.
It’s in this that criticism thrown Cam’s way should be justified. It’s also in this that criticism lobbed Rivera’s way for putting his own set of rules ahead of the team’s success should also be questioned.