Newton’s (broken) law stirs debate

DRESS CODE VIOLATION

JOHN KRYK The interwebs were still abuzz Monday over whether Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton deserved to be benched Sunday night.

Why? For failing to wear a necktie Saturday on the team’s flight up the Pacific Coast, from California to Seattle.

Head coach Ron Rivera benched Newton for Carolina’s first offensive series at CenturyLink Field. That series amounted to just one illadvised play, because on the game’s first scrimmage snap, backup quarterback Derek Anderson threw a ball that got tipped and fell into the arms of Seahawks linebacker Mike Morgan at the 22-yard line. He returned it 14 yards to the Carolina eight.

The Seahawks were off and running to an eventual 40-7 victory.

Debates have been raging online ever since.

First of all, as critics of Rivera are saying, who under 40 even wears a necktie anymore, no matter how important, momentous or solemn the occasion? Why should NFL players be forced to do so, on an uncomfortable airplane ride to boot?

And if Rivera felt he needed to discipline Newton for not complying with a fundamental team-travel rule, why bench him? Even for one play? When if you don’t defeat the Seahawks, your season is done? And when Newton is not just any NFL quarterback, but the reigning league MVP?

Those on the other side of the argument say Newton can’t think, act or expect to be treated differently from any other player.

Newton after the game said that because the Panthers stayed in California all last week after losing at Oakland — rather than fly home and back six days apart — he didn’t have a dress shirt.

Why? Because on long transcontinental flights, Panthers players are allowed to wear comfortable clothing, not dress clothing. So Newton didn’t pack a dress shirt for Saturday’s flight up the coast, thinking the same exception would apply.

And, uh, he suggested he couldn’t buy one. All week. In California.

“When you’re 6-(foot)-5, trying to get a shirt — I was away from home for a week — I didn’t pack a shirt,” Newton said, per NFL.com.

“I thought we were on the same page. I felt as if I wore a similar outfit like this before, and nothing was done. But he has rules in place and we have to abide by them. No person is greater than the next person. It is what it is.”

On Monday, Rivera elaborated on the controversial decision.

“I have had to address the issue before, and I did the same exact thing. I treat everybody the same,” Rivera said.

Given what happened on that fateful first play, does Rivera have any misgivings?

“I’m very comfortable with it,” Rivera said.

Eric Berry, safety, Chiefs. What a story. Played in his Atlanta hometown for the first time in seven years as a pro, and returned two interceptions for scores. Berry said the last time he was in Atlanta during the season was two years ago, to get treatment for cancer, which he beat within eight months.

Jeff Fisher, head coach, Rams. He wore a parka the size of an inflatable life raft on a sunny, nottoo-cold day at New England, then couldn’t find where he’d pocketed his red challenge flag.