One would suspect that the Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton may not harbor the same remorse Racing 92's Simon Zebo had after his finger-pointing incident with Ulster's Michael Lowry.
Darting over the try-line during their Champions Cup clash, it was generally felt that Zebo, exiled as he is from the Irish set-up in Paris, wanted to send a little message to those doubting what he may have yet to offer Joe Schmidt's side.
Unfortunately for Zebo, that's just not rugby, apparently.
Advised by referee Nigel Owens to apologise to Lowry, Zebo later admitted that he felt "sick" about the seemingly innocent finger-point.
American football scarcely seems to share the same sense of humility. With his Panthers camped on Tampa Bay's end-zone, Newton demonstrated some acute awareness of the situation to casually drop off around the back and walk the ball over for a touchdown.
Only, a little like his rugby counterpart Zebo, Cam Newton wanted to do it with a little bit of flash. Not only giving the finger/ball-point, Newton reduces his run to a jog, and eventually on to a quick-ish stroll.
The disrespect from Cam Newton pic.twitter.com/jOVu3c6VDo
— Vikings Blogger (@firstandskol) November 4, 2018
Some wonderful arrogance, the unfortunate conclusion to this incident was the official's decision to overrule the touchdown; an illegal shift by the offensive line deeming the whole endeavour worthless.
Whatever of the end result, neither Newton nor the Buccaneers in question knew of this as the quarter-back walked the ball over.
