Panthers coach Ron Rivera wasn’t going to second-guess his own late-game play calls (imagine that), but he did have a beef with one aspect of yesterday’s loss to the Falcons.
Rivera told reporters he thought rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was interfered with in the end zone earlier in the game, potentially costing them points during a 19-17 loss.
Rivera stepped into a basketball metaphor, saying the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Benjamin was like former NBA center Shaquille O’Neal, who often absorbed contact and didn’t get calls because his sheer size made him harder to knock down.
“I have my own opinion on that, there are things I would like to have seen called,” Rivera said. “I feel Kelvin hasn’t gotten calls because of his size.”
Of course, Benjamin’s inability to make routine catches could be linked to O’Neal’s inability to hit free throws, as well. And it doesn’t hurt for Rivera to plant that thought in the heads of future officials, as well.
The rookie wideout has made a pair of glaring mistakes in recent weeks which led to interceptions, quitting on routes and allowing defenders to muscle him out of position.
He’s making circus catches for touchdowns on a somewhat regular basis, but his inability to get the fundamentals down is circumventing his progress.
Which makes him kind of like the 3-7-1 Panthers as a whole.