SEATTLE
The Carolina Panthers took the field for their first offensive series early Sunday night, but quarterback Cam Newton wasn’t with them.
Instead, the starter bounced up and down on his toes on the sideline as backup Derek Anderson led the first team offense onto the field …
… And promptly threw a pick, returned 14 yards to the Carolina 8. Seattle settled the drive with a field goal and the tone was set for the Seahawks’ 40-7 rout of the Panthers.
Later in the quarter, a team source confirmed to Observer reporter Joe Person that Newton was benched for disciplinary reason.