At the start of the Sunday Night Football game between Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks, Derek Anderson of all people stood behind center, instead of Cam Newton. If you had Anderson in back-up quarterback fantasy, he threw an interception in his only play of the game. It set the Seahawks up with a field goal and their first points of the game. Seattle would go on to drub Carolina, 40-7 and put a nail in Panthers playoff coffin. Before the game ended, reports came out Newton’s one-play suspension was due for not wearing a tie.

On subject of Cam Newton's attire, here's what ESPN's cameraman tonight, Phillip Townsend, captured him wearing into the stadium earlier: pic.twitter.com/pposafsjpz

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) December 5, 2016

Look, I understand that rules are rules, and all players should follow it, yet c’mon man. This is the biggest game of the season, and the 2015 NFL MVP gets benched for a tie infraction. My guess is the play Carolina ran with Anderson was scripted, and if that’s the case, it’s more infuriating as a Carolina fan. Just go off script for one play and run a one-yard drive with Johnathan Stewart then Newton can come back in the game. Many people will praise Ron Rivera for sticking to his guns, but in reality, it’s a foolish move when it costs the team three points. For me, Rivera is trying to make sure it looks like he has the biggest dick on the team, and Newton isn’t bigger than him.

You hope this isn’t something that will divide a locker room. I doubt that it will and honestly if Anderson makes a clean play, it’s a 37-7 loss versus 40-7. Carolina is 4-8 and pretty much done with the playoffs yet they could influence what happens in the final month with playing Redskins, Falcons and Buccaneers.

Charlie.