Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Rhule penalizes WR Rashard Higgins for taunting in practice

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 8/6/22

Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule is on the hot seat entering the 2022 season, and one move he pulled in training camp Saturday might not endear him much to his players.

Ellis L. Williams of the Charlotte Observer shared a strange scene from Carolina’s morning practice Saturday in which Rhule actually called one of his players for taunting during a scrimmage. After wide receiver Rashard Higgins showed off his trademark red carpet celebration following a touchdown catch, Rhule stopped practice, flagged Higgins and made the offense run as punishment.

Baker Mayfield hit Rashard Higgins on a deep post TD. Offense was geeked. Higgins rolled out the red carpet. But he was flagged for taugnting. Matt Rhule stopped practice, yelled at everyone and made offense run

— Ellis L. Williams (@BookofEllis) August 6, 2022

On one hand, Rhule probably doesn’t want his players showing each other up, whether Higgins was doing so or not. Plus, with taunting a real emphasis in the NFL, the Panthers coach might want to send that message to his players before it actually costs them in a meaningful game.

On the other hand, this just makes Rhule look uptight and worried a bit too much about something this minor. For a guy who is the subject of buyer’s remorse on the part of owner David Tepper, that might not be a good look.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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