Newton handshake rebuffed by Benjamin

Cam Newton confronted Kelvin Benjamin on the field pregame and it didn’t go well…

Adding a bit of intrigue to an otherwise typical preseason game one, former Carolina Panthers wide receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, recently lit into his former franchise and quarterback Cam Newton. Traded away in the middle of last season, Benjamin’s time with the Panthers ended rather abruptly for a former first-round pick.

Benjamin enjoyed a quality rookie season with over 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Entering his sophomore campaign, the rising star went down in training camp with a torn ACL ending his year but the ensuing absence was seemingly non-existent.

Without Benjamin on the field, Carolina enjoyed a 15-1 regular season as an offensive juggernaut as Newton earned league MVP honors on the way to a second Super Bowl appearance for the franchise.

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In 2016, Benjamin nearly matched his rookie contributions but entered camp last season overweight and never really appeared in sync with the offense. As a result he was traded for two picks utilized this past spring just minutes before the deadline.

Last week, Benjamin unleashed a tirade about Newton and the Panthers organization.

Newton responded via Instagram stating he wasn’t going to get into any “back and forth” with an implied Benjamin as the Panthers quarterback didn’t name anyone in particular. As the two teams were set to face off in their first preseason game, the two met momentarily on the field prior.

As veteran linebacker Thomas Davis was speaking with Benjamin, Newton approached his ex-teammate and appeared to offer a handshake. Benjamin never acknowledged the gesture and Newton didn’t take too kindly to being shunned.

Briefly following Benjamin around the field as he attempted to shrug off the encounter, words were exchanged but nothing more. Neither would comment much on the exchange following the game with Benjamin simply saying he was, “moving on from it” and Newton answering with, “no comment” when asked about what happened.

Newton finished his first preseason action completing six of nine passes for 84 yards. Benjamin, who was targeted often as the Bills attempted to exploit cornerback Kevon Seymour, had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

If both meet on the field again this season it will be in Atlanta for the Super Bowl in February.