Cam Newton: Former Panthers GM Dave Gettleman was behind infamous ‘tie game’

Panthers great Cam Newton confirmed that former GM Dave Gettleman was behind the decision to bench him for not wearing a tie to Seattle in 2016.

It’s taken seven years, but we finally have Cam Newton’s side to one of the more infamous stories in Carolina Panthers history.

The franchise’s all-time leader passer joined fellow quarterbacks Jordan Palmer and Kyle “Lovey Dovey” Allen for Wednesday’s episode of The QB Room podcast. Newton, who provided an absolute wealth of perspective on his time with the Panthers, recalled the trip to Seattle in 2016—where he was benched because he did not travel to the game with a tie.

Yeah, that happened.

Here’s Newton’s account:

Newton, who won the Most Valuable Player award the season prior, was held out of the game’s opening drive. In a sick twist of karma to the powers that be (or power that were), backup Derek Anderson tossed an interception on the very first play of the possession.

After the Seahawks cashed in with an easy field goal, head coach Ron Rivera subbed Newton in for the remainder of the Sunday night showdown. The Panthers went on to lose, 40-7.

Oh, and if you think Newton may be fibbing, linebacker Thomas Davis and safety Tre Boston—both of whom were also on that 2016 squad—have very similar recollections . . .

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