Panthers DE Frank Alexander ejected for throwing a punch

By Sam Gardner, FOXSports.com The young NFL season has seen its first ejection. Carolina Panthers defensive end Frank Alexander was tossed just before halftime of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks after punching Seahawks right tackle Breno Giacomini. Alexander and Giacomini became tangled up during a Charles Godfrey sack of Russell Wilson, and after a little pushing and shoving, Alexander punched Giacomini in the face mask:

Alexander’s 15-yard personal foul penalty negated Godfrey’s 13-yard sack. Fortunately, the punch didn’t end up costing the Panthers on the scoreboard. Three plays after the ejection, Alexander’s replacement, starting left end Charles Johnson, blew past Giacomini for a strip-sack on Wilson. Johnson then recovered the fumble at the Panthers’ 19-yard line to preserve Carolina’s 7-3 halftime lead.