Richard Sherman on Cam Newton tossing Seahawks flag: ‘I guess karma gets you’

RENTON – Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has defended Panthers quarterback Cam Newton amid criticism of the way he celebrates. Sherman did so in an interview with 710 ESPN Seattle in January, which was a couple weeks after the incident following Carolina’s playoff victory over the Seahawks when Newton grabbed a 12 flag from a fan in the stands and tossed it.

With the Seahawks set to host 4-7 Carolina on Sunday night, that moment was revisited during Sherman’s weekly press conference on Wednesday. He changed his tune on Newton with a brief response and a not-so-subtle dig.

Here was the question: “A lot of Seahawks fans weren’t happy last year after the game when Cam Newton grabbed a 12’s flag, crumpled it up and threw it away. I know you’ve always defended his celebrations during games, but did he cross the line when he did that after the game last year?

Sherman’s response: “Umm, yeah, he probably did. I guess karma gets you. It doesn’t look like he’s going to be in the playoffs this year.”

Carolina is three games back of first-place Atlanta in the NFC South standings with five games to play, so it indeed does look like the Panthers will miss out on the postseason.