INDIANAPOLIS - Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler was ejected in the third quarter of Sunday's game for punching Colts tight end Jack Doyle.
The 2016 first-round pick out of Louisiana Tech then gave the middle finger to fans booing him as he was escorted to the locker room.
The move came with Carolina trailing 24-3 in the debut of rookie quarterback Will Grier.
Nothing on replays showed that Doyle did anything to provoke the punch to his facemask. Officials immediately threw a flag for unnecessary roughness and then announced Butler was ejected after reviewing the replay.