Earlier this week, Panthers rookie safety Rashaan Gaulden caused a stir at training camp when he laid out wide receiver Jarius Wright in the end zone.

Reports at the time stated that several teammates admonished Gaulden for the hit and coach Ron Rivera took him aside to explain why the officials would have thrown a flag during a live game.

Apparently, he had it wrong.

According to a report by David Newton at ESPN, Rivera says after reviewing the play Gaulden’s hit was legitimate.

When I first saw it I thought he hit with the head. . . But when you go back and look you can see he hits with the shoulder first. . . I was pretty much in position where the referee would be standing behind the offense and I saw the hit . . . I went over and talked to him. So when I went back and looked at it I was, ‘Oh, gosh, kid! That’s what you’re supposed to do.’

Then again, based on how last night’s Hall of Fame Game between the Bears and Ravens was officiated, any kind of contact made by a safety may soon be considered illegal by the NFL.

Hopefully the league wakes up and realizes its mistake before the regular season begins.