Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson has raised eyebrows after he was photographed wearing a hat bearing the logo of the Falcons. Carolina and Atlanta are in the same division, meaning they play twice a year and the Falcons defeated the Panthers by 14 points last week. Johnson is from Georgia. Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith surprisingly defended Johnson. Smith explained that hats are accessories, and that they often are selected based on where a player grew up. He also said that players are simply employees of the teams for which they play, and that the players have the right on their own time to display whatever colors and logos they want.