John Fox Benched Chris Gamble For Missing Practice, Not Poor Performance

Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox has taken some flak this week for benching star cornerback Chris Gamble last Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Fox has eluded the situation in press conferences and dodged questions, saying it was strictly performance-based.

Wednesday, the truth came out.

Gamble, apparently frustrated after being critiqued during a film session, left the Panthers facility and skipped practice last Wednesday, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Teammate Everette Brown cleared the air Wednesday.

“He made an out-of-mind decision, I call it that,” Brown told the Associated Press. “He came back the next day and apologized, and that’s been the end of it since. He’s been out working every day and getting better and getting ready for the Seattle Seahawks.”

Gamble does not have an interception this season, but the seven-year veteran has been a key part of a Panthers secondary that ranks seventh in the NFL and is truly the lone bright spot on an otherwise dismal team.

Gamble was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring injury, and it’s unclear how much he will play Sunday when the Panthers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks at 4:15 p.m. EST.

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