If you ask Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, safety Sam Franklin Jr. may have had a little too much juice in Week 13.
Yesterday’s heartbreaking overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was followed by another battle, one that took place in the tunnel near the visitors’ locker room at Bank of America Stadium. Franklin was seen shouting towards Buccaneers players while being restrained by a team staffer:
Sam Franklin heated after the game die the Carolina Panthers. Calling out No. 33 for Tampa Bay Bucs. pic.twitter.com/AWgDpwEkDs
— Dennis Cox (@TheFanRookie) December 2, 2024
Sam Franklin Jr. trying to get into the Bucs locker room after the game. pic.twitter.com/z51zHIdq2x
— Logan Campbell (@loganncampbelll) December 2, 2024
Canales was asked about the incident on Monday.
“Just know that we talked about it,” he replied. “He and I sat down this morning and just had that conversation. He’ll be the first to tell you that he shouldn’t do that, that it was a mistake.
“And we talked about just wanting to have passion, wanting to have edge and knowing where to tow that edge. And then come back to us, celebrate with us, talk to our teammates, keep our energy going on our side. We don’t have to give the opponent anything and that’s one of those things, too.”
Unfortunately for the Panthers and Franklin, they gave the Bucs the win (and some energy) on Sunday.
