Imagine the criticism if Cam Newton wasn't an MVP candidate leading a 9-0 football team. Or maybe that explains why, yet again, his actions near the end zone are getting more attention than anything he's doing on the field.

A week after he gifted websites millions of clicks by having the audacity to snag an opposing fans' banner at Bank of America Stadium, Newton's dance moves are being timed. To be fair, if he was "protecting the house" from Packers fans, it's understandable why the Titans were irked by Newton's seemingly extended celebration at the end of their 10th straight loss at Nissan Stadium.

The "act like you've been there before" crowd also has issues with Newton, but his coach isn't about to tell his quarterback to get off his lawn. Besides, Ron Rivera's former Bears teammates were some of the first to realize you can have a personality while playing football.

"It's all part of the entertainment," Rivera said Monday. "I think everybody just needs to understand, to a degree, it's part of the game."

But why all the fuss for Newton? At last check, there have been no think pieces written about Drew Stanton's, um, Sunday night "dance."

Well, first, this is how it works with Newton. It's what it's been and it's what will continue to be. And the more success the Panthers have, the bigger the lightning rod their polarizing quarterback will be.

"I think this game has kind of morphed a little bit because of the times. There's so much social media out there, I think that's affected the way people look at the game. I think it's also affected the way some of the players look at the game," Rivera said. "Beyond the running, the tackling, the hitting, the throwing, the passing, the catching and the running, it's become about the flashiness, the ability to be a showman.

"But let's be smart about it and let's make sure we're not taunting. And I don't think that's his intent at all, ever."

Because the Titans and their interim head coach Mike Mularkey disagreed, we're again analyzing Newton for who he is instead of how he's playing. He explains it by saying he's just a big kid.

Rivera was like that once, too. He always wanted to spike the ball after scoring a touchdown. He got his wish in December of 1985 when he returned a fumble five yards. Unfortunately, the Associated Press recorded it as a score for some guy named Don Rivera.

Regardless, a spike back then was sometimes considered a bit showy. Now guys are doing stuff that forces fans to ask Google things like, "What is the dab dance?", and reporters to ask an NFL head coach if it's something he could do.

"No, I've got no chance," Rivera said. "I might hurt something."