Reddick: Panthers need to 'throw the friendships out the way'

Haason Reddick delivered a wake-up call to the Carolina Panthers' leadership core Monday in the aftermath of another disheartening loss.

"We've got to hold everybody accountable," the edge rusher told reporters. "It wasn't good enough. Have to throw the friendships out the way, the buddy-buddy out the way."

Carolina fell at home to the Washington Football Team on Sunday, losing for the sixth time in its last eight games. The Panthers began the season 3-0 but are outside of the playoff picture amid their porous stretch.

"Sometimes guys might see somebody do something wrong and instead of saying something or getting on the person that's doing something wrong, (they) tend to show a blind eye," Reddick said. "Or be like, 'Hey, c'mon now' - that soft tone - instead of a stern, 'Hey! Do your job, get your job done!' type of tone."

The 27-year-old added that the same attitude has contributed to the Panthers' penalty problems. Carolina has been flagged a league-high 81 times.

"It's the same thing," he said. "The veterans, the guys that are doing it right at a high percentage has to step up, speak, and demand that everybody does it the right way. That's basically it. Our guys who are doing it right are guys that's leaders, we got to step up and start demanding."

Reddick has flourished with the Panthers on an individual level, as his 10.5 sacks are tied for the third-most in the NFL. The 27-year-old signed a one-year contract with Carolina in the offseason after four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

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