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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he benched reigning league MVP Cam Newton on Sunday night because he didnt want chaos setting in with his football team.Rivera opened his press conference Wednesday with a stern statement, hoping it will put to rest his much-publicized decision to not start Newton in a game the Panthers lost 40-7 to the Seahawks.I am going to address this situation one last time -- I made a decision based on rules. I treat everybody the same, Rivera said. The reason you do it, especially when you are having a tough season, is because chaos can consume your football team. The idea was to do the right thing, treat everybody the same. I have done it before where I have had to treat people the same, and thats all I have done. Thats the end of it. Please, as the football team would like to move forward and start focusing on the San Diego Chargers.Rivera kept the sixth-year quarterback out for one series against the Seahawks because Newton violated a team rule by not wearing a tie on the team flight to Seattle. He wore a turtleneck instead.The coach said after his comments Wednesday that he wouldnt answer any other questions about the situation.Newton didnt address the media at all, as is his normal routine on Wednesdays since coming into the league in 2011 as the teams No. 1 draft pick. Team officials said it was because the Panthers were working on a later schedule than normal after returning from the West Coast on Monday. Newton is expected to address the media on Thursday, team officials said.Tight end Greg Olsen said hes confident the Panthers wont let Riveras decision to discipline Newton split the teams locker room, calling that idea a media-driven story line.There has been zero comments that I have seen that have been anything other than positive, and everyone saying the same thing, Olsen said. The idea that there has been a divide... is complete and utter nonsense.Players were careful not to take sides on Wednesday.I feel like the situation was handled pretty good, tight end Ed Dickson said. Newton took ownership of it, from his mouth, it will never happen again. We will move on from that situation. Hes still our leader of the offense.San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy, who spent eight seasons as an assistant coach in Carolina, said NFL coaches are often forced to make tough decisions.You have to make a decision on what you think is right for your team, McCoy said. As a head coach that is your job and your responsibility to the organization. ... Thats the role you are in.The Panthers (4-8) are all but out of playoff contention one year after reaching the Super Bowl and losing 24-10 to the Denver Broncos, and things have gone downhill fast because of injuries and an inability to win close games.Rivera is hoping the Panthers can find a way to win out and avoid their fourth losing season in six years.Newton will start Sunday against the Chargers as normal.There was a bright side for the Panthers on Wednesday, as three defensive starters -- middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, safety Kurt Coleman and cornerback Daryl Worley -- all returned to practice on a limited basis.Rivera, however, said all three are still in the leagues concussion protocol for now but that Kuechlys return brought energy to the practice field.Defensive ends Mario Addison (ankle) and Charles Johnson (hamstring), linebacker David Mayo (concussion), right tackle Daryl Williams (ankle) and running back Jonathan Stewart (rest) did not practice.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLPhiladelphia Phillies Store . 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From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie.AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas coach Charlie Strong said Monday he will take a bigger role shaping his battered defense and that all of his coaches will be evaluated after giving up 50 points in a loss at California over the weekend.Weve got two weeks to look at it. Ive been involved in the defense. I can get more involved and I will be more involved, said Strong, a former defensive coordinator at Florida when the Gators won national championships in 2006 and 2008.Strong backed away from suggestions he take over game-day defensive calls from coordinator Vance Bedford, a close friend who has worked with Strong for years.Theres other guys sitting there that have the capability to take over the defense, Strong said. It will get fixed. The defense will get fixed. I can tell you that. Whatever I need to do to get it fixed, its gonna happen. Well get it fixed.No. 21 Texas (2-1) is off until starting Big 12 play Oct. 1 at Oklahoma State (2-1).Strong has made big midseason staff changes in the past. In 2015, Strong demoted former offensive coordinator Shawn Watson after the first game. It made scant difference as Texas finished 5-7.Strong wants to avoid hitting the panic button so soon after Texas 2-0 start revived the Longhorns fan base after two consecutive losing seasons. But watching Cal quarterback Davis Webb carve up the Longhorns secondary raised serious concerns heading into the Big 12, a league where offenses flourish.Texas had problems all over the backfield, from broken coverages to players getting physically beaten in matchups. Even when Texas beat Notre Dame 50-47 in their season opener, the Longhorns surrendered five passing touchdowns. Strong said coaches and players will be heeld accountable for the failures.ddddddddddddouve got to coach it. Coach it hard. Dont say to me, `Well, I told him, Strong said.Texas defensive players defended their coach and called the breakdowns a lack of communication on the field.Safety Dylan Haines predicted Texas wont hit a slide similar to last season when the Longhorns lost four of their first five games.This is not going to turn into what it did last year. Were going to get it fixed, Haines said.But the defensive struggles arent new. Texas gave up at least 30 points six times last season. Against Cal, Texas twice led by 10 points in the first half and grabbed the lead again late in the second. Only a fumble at the Texas 1 prevented Cal from tacking on another late touchdown in the final minute.The loss dropped Strong to 13-15 overall at Texas and he is widely considered to be under enormous pressure to win this year to keep his job.After his second losing season, Strong hired coordinator Sterlin Gilbert to rev up his offense, but stuck with Bedford as his defensive coordinator. The Longhorns have averaged 45 points over the first three games and surrendered an average of 35.Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele shrugged off the defensive woes.Theres no finger pointing. We all trust each other, Buechele said.Strong was too trusting of his defense Saturday night. Facing fourth-and-long from his own 20 late in the game, Strong opted to punt and hope his defense could get a stop. Cal instead ran out the clock.Theyre frustrated, Strong said of his players. They know we let one get away from us. ' ' '