Carolina Panthers

All-black Panthers uniforms a hit — or headbutt for Baker Mayfield 

Maybe Baker Mayfield just really loves the Panthers’ new “dark side” helmets? (Everyone else does.)

After the team’s 25-15 win over the Falcons on Thursday, Mayfield — who didn’t play — celebrated with his teammates by walking up to several who were wearing the black helmets and headbutted them.

The problem? He wasn’t wearing a helmet himself.

Sportscaster Al Michaels can be heard chuckling while watching the live footage from the field and quipped: “Good way to wind up in concussion protocol even though you don’t get in the game.”

The antics unleashed a good bit of eye rolls and smart comments.

Joe Rivera of Sporting News wrote: “Mayfield has often made questionable decisions on the football field. Count this one among the most bizarre.”

The Panthers acquired Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns for a conditional fifth-round pick this summer. The Browns selected him as the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Panthers fans have repeatedly jeered him for his poor performance this year, and he’s now second fiddle to starting QB P.J. Walker.

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This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 10:37 AM.

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Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
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