Cam Newton costs Panthers touchdown by celebrating

In the Carolina Panthers’ first game of the preseason, quarterback Cam Newton cost the team a touchdown by prematurely celebrating on the field.

The Carolina Panthers opened the preseason against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday. Panthers linebacker A.J. Klein intercepted a pass and took it 95 yards for a touchdown in the first half. During the interception return, however, Cam Newton prematurely took to the field to celebrate, causing the officials to penalize the Panthers and nullify the touchdown.

The penalty resulted in the Panthers starting their drive from the Ravens 26-yard-line, as opposed to capping off their touchdown with an extra point. Luckily for Newton, the team would go on to score later in that same drive.

The rule, dubbed the ‘Joey Porter Rule,’ was implemented following an incident during last year’s playoffs, when Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter’s stepped onto the field to argue with Cincinnati Bengals players, resulting in a penalty for the Bengals and setting up the Steelers for a game-winning field goal. The NFL passed this rule, along with many others, in the 2016 offseason.

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When it came to talking about the incident, or the rule itself, Newton took a defensive approach after the game, saying he wished that officials would have warned him before penalizing him.

“I don’t want to have a discussion about something that I’ve learned from,” Newton told reporters after the game. “You live and you learn…it happened. We all learned something as a team. We’re moving forward.”

As for his teammates’ response, Newton’s passion and celebrations were actually welcomed on the sidelines, despite the penalization.

“You know what the great thing is? He’s actually engaged in the game,” Panthers safety Kurt Coleman told the Charlotte Observer after the game. ““He was excited for the defense. He got the flag, but he’s actually in the game. That shows a lot about himself.”

Seldom has there been a greater disconnect between a player’s talent and value to his team on the one hand, and unnecessary media flak on the other. Would another quarterback been penalized for the same offense? It’s difficult to say. Deserved or not, Newton’s star is one that’s likely never going to be without its silly — even borderline racist — hot takes, be it from the media or the general public. The best we can do, as fans and reporters, is to see the football forest for the trees: that Cam Newton is one of the flat-out best there is, a whole bunch of fun to watch, and a much better human than far too many are willing to admit.