Getty Images
Panthers coach Matt Rhule was unhappy with defender Teddy Bridgewater for an expensive scandal in Saturday night’s Packers loss.
With the Panthers down 14-3 and facing the first and goal at the 1-yard line, Rhule called for a defensive storm. Bridgewater was initially stopped at the line, but touched the ball forward, at which point it was taken out of his hands. The Packers recovered and led him back to midfield, setting up a touchdown that gave Green Bay a 21-3 lead.
Rhule then said that Bridgewater must know not to get the ball to the goal line unless it is the fourth down.
“We don’t reach the ball over the goal line until the fourth place. It’s just a kind of principle. We don’t. We never do it, “Rhule told SI.com. “It’s time to dump her and move on. You know, you’re at Lambeau in December, playing a good team. You just have to trust yourself. I’m not just talking about Teddy, I’m talking about the whole team. The song was iconic. You’re talking about dramatic change. If she did that on the fourth down, I can live with her, just not on the first down, especially when I think I rolled the ball well when I rolled it tonight. This is just a principle of our team. We do not reach the ball over the goal line until the fourth down. “
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of dismantling Bridgewater: “It was a game of play, no doubt.” It was a great piece for LaFleur’s team and a terrible piece for Rhule’s team.