Newton defends actions after Super Bowl: I will not conform
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Carolina Panthers Cam Newton answered questions after NFL Super Bowl 50 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Broncos won 24-10.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. » Cam Newton isn’t apologizing for acting like a “sore loser” after the Super Bowl.
The league’s MVP has been widely criticized for walking out of a three-minute press conference after a 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in which he answered questions with mostly one- and two-word responses while sulking in his chair wearing a black Carolina Panthers hoodie over his head.
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser,” Newton said today as players cleaned out their lockers at the team’s downtown stadium.
Newton said he believes the situation is being overblown by the media, and added he doesn’t plan to change how he reacts to losing just to appease his critics.
“If I offended anybody that’s cool, but I know who I am and I’m not about to conform nor bend for anybody’s expectations because yours or anybody’s expectations would never exceed mine,” Newton said.
The quarterback went on to say, “Who are you to say that your way is right? I have all of these people who are condemning and saying this, that and the third, but what makes your way right?”
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At one point during Newton’s nearly seven-minute interview, his teammates walked behind the media gathered three-deep around his locker and starting saying, “We love you, Cam,” and even sang him a song lightning the mood.
Newton said his emotions were raw after the game and he simply didn’t want to talk to the media.
“When you invest so much time and sacrifice so much and things don’t go as planned, I think emotions take over,” Newton said. “I think that is what happens.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said while he prefers his fifth-year quarterback would have handled the situation a little better, he understands where he is coming from and what he felt at the time.
“That’s who he is. He hates to lose, that’s the bottom line,” Rivera said. “That is what you love in him. I would much rather have a guy who hates to lose than a guy who accepts it. The guy who accepts it, you might as well just push him out of your locker room because you don’t want him around.
“That is a beauty of a guy like that — he wants to win and his teammates know it. That is what it is about. We don’t play this game for a participation trophy. We want to win.”
Newton takes losing harder than most.
In some past Carolina defeats, he’s sat distraught at his locker still in his uniform for more than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game. There are times it has taken him more than an hour before addressing the media.
Because this was the Super Bowl, Newton was forced into the interview room a little sooner than normal.
At one point, his attention appeared to drift to listening to Broncos players who were celebrating and talking about their win on the other side of the interview room.
Rivera suggested in the future Newton may need more time before addressing the media to get his emotions in check.
“There are a lot of young people out there looking at who we are, and we are role models for them,” Rivera said. “I think again we know who he is and he does take it hard. Quite honestly if he is going to take it hard, as a public service, we should avoid having him talk right away. People take losses, not just football losses, but personal losses different ways. Time is probably the best thing.”
Teammates rallied behind Newton today.
They said they know how badly he wanted to win and how hard he takes losing games.
“He’s a competitor just like everybody else,” fullback Mike Tolbert said. “He’s not happy at all about what happened. I’m not happy about what happened. I think everyone on our team is not happy, so why should we be all smiles after? I can’t expect anybody to be laughing and joking and ecstatic about losing a football game.”
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman refused to criticize his franchise quarterback for the way he acted after the game.
“I want players that hate to lose,” Gettleman said. “I want players that I know when the game is over they are crawling into the locker room and they need help getting their gear off and they are going to need time getting into the shower. I want the buses to be late to the airport if we’re traveling. We all handle defeat differently.”
96 responses to “Newton defends actions after Super Bowl: I will not conform”
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Ron Rivera is a wise man. Good luck next year Carolina.
One word. Immaturity.
Cam made the comment that if you don’t like to see me celebrate ( in the end zone) you have to stop him and that’s what Denver did. He is fun to watch when he is playing well.There’s always next year. I only hope that Denver can retain Miller.
He may not conform, but he will lose the locker room. His teammates, especially veterans will not put up with a cry baby premodana that refuses to put everything on the line for his team. He had the perfect chance to shut all his detractors up by simply tipping his cap to Denver and saying they were the better team that day. He would have shown that he can take the tough times the same way he take the good times. He failed miserably both on and off the field on Sunday, and with his total refusal to show any remorse for any of his short comings will be his downfall. Too bad, but reminds me of another guy in his generation; Jonny Football.
“Win like a man lose like a man”. Very wise words from a great leader and man that I would think he could associate with.
Cam walked across the field to congratulate Peyton at the end of the game. After his 2010 Super Bowl loss, Peyton ran straight to the locker room without shaking hands with Drew Brees or anyone else.
Did you watch that Super Bowl? That’s not what happened. Peyton was also a gracious loser when he lost to the Seahawks. When a fan asked him for his autograph he told that person to wait while he gets something done. He then came back out and signed this fan’s memorabilia. That’s after losing in a Super Bowl game.
It’s easy to find video of Peyton running of the field at the end of Super Bowl XLIV as well as sportswriters’ accounts. Here’s how one writer excused Peyton’s unsportsmanlike behavior: “Walking off the field without congratulating Drew Brees may go against our misguided notion of what sportsmanship should be, but it wasn’t at all disrespectful or bitter. It shows how much Peyton Manning wanted to win the game. And who can argue about that?” So Peyton gets a pass. And here’s how Peyton describes Cam displaying sportsmanship after a loss (something Peyton didn’t do in 2010): “Quarterback Peyton Manning, on the other hand, told NBC’s Today show on Monday morning that Newton displayed great humility when they came together at the end. ‘Cam couldn’t have been nicer to me. He was extremely humble,’ Manning said.
Also, it should be noted that during Cam’s brief post-game interview, Bronco players could be heard loudly trash-talking Cam and the Panthers.
Show us the video of Manning not going after a fumble. Anytime. Any game.
Lol.Proves Newton is nothing but a fig.
I don’t care how he acts after the game, but what the həll happened to him in the fourth quarter? I can’t stand Tom Brady as a personality. But when the Patriots were down in the playoffs against the Broncos, Brady kept his cool as quarterback until the very end — even in the last seconds you believed the Patriots could come back. But with Newton, he pretty much gave up in the 4th quarter; or, being down had him so rattled that it affected his play.
Brady’s been there, done that. Cam’s been there, but he ain’t done that.
Once of the best comment ! Couldn’t put my finger on what was happening at the last quarter you just clarified it for me! Mahalo!
There go the endorsements.
BINGO – you hit the nail on the head. Cam doth protest that he doesn’t care. I bet he cares about his endorsements or rather – lack of endorsements.
“If I offended anybody that’s cool, but I know who I am and I’m not about to conform nor bend for anybody’s expectations because yours or anybody’s expectations would never exceed mine,” Newton said. Agreed. It seems his only expectations are about winning on the field. Never mind about being a loser in life. Those who perform on the field get a salary. Those who also perform off the field by being role models and icons for the team, the league and the game itself get endorsements. He has a lot of growing up to do.
Cam is a LOSER, plain and simple. Perfect example of a spoiled, rich, coddled athlete !! All smiles and bragging when he wins, but turns into a sullen crybaby when he loses !! Peyton Manning has lost his share of Super Bowls and stood in front of the Lions called journalists, and took his lumps like a gentleman. Obviously, Cam’s parents didn’t teach him the same lessons of humility. Cam better remember the old adage: Watch whose fingers you step on as you go up the ladder because they will be kicking and spitting at you as you fall back down !!
he has all the looks of another Ryan Leaf
Cam doesn’t get it and he probably never will. He can’t see how others see him, he thinks he’s misunderstood. There’s no misunderstanding, he’s an embarrassment as a person. We don’t want to understand him, he should just shut his mouth. Instead of studying the playbook, his team should give him a video Marcus Mariotta’s Heisman acceptance speech and make Cam watch it every day until the start of next season. Betting he still won’t get it.
In my opinion, it’s not being a sore loser…or even a good winner…it’s being able to be gracious enough to on acknowledge your opponent (regardless of outcome) for taking the field of play and doing your best. Hence, it’s a question of what makes up an individual. Coach Rivera on the other hand exemplifies a good personality trait…maturity and wisdom. Side note…it seemed that Cam Newton was not himself from the start…something (other than Denver’s defense)was on his mind…just saying…
Walking out on the media is nothing compared to his failure to go after that fumble in the fourth quarter. That tells you all you need to know about Cam Newton.
oops, ditto!
Can anyone name a person who was a sore loser and became a champion?
I can’t. My opinion a sore loser will always be a sore loser and never a champion.
One becomes a sore loser when it is always someone else’s fault and not admitt that is was his/her own doing or part of it.
He will need to change his attitude to become a champion.
Yes, we all know what a loser Cam is. A lot of losers play in the quarterback position in the Super Bowl. Great analysis!
John Mcenroe
How about John Elway and Eli Manning. They both told teams, before even taking a professional snap, that if they get drafted by certain teams, they would not play.
@ cmn848 – Guess you didn’t know that Bill Belichick did not shake hands with Tom Coughlin after the Giants ruined the Pats perfect season in Superbowl XLII. If you did, you wouldn’t make such a foolish statement.
Loser, go home. We don’t care what you have to say anyway. Make a poster of Cam looking at the loose ball.
I think the clip of him dodging the fumble says a lot more than the drivel that comes out of his mouth. Look for it on You Tube, titled, “Cam Newton doesn’t dive for the fumble”. D.A.B. = Dive After the Ball! (snagged that from the you tube comments)
Win with humility and lose with grace, dignity and respect for your opponent.
no doubt that Cam is a very talented player. Bottom line is, win like a man, lose like a man. or in his case, win like superman, lose like superman. or u gonna end up like “johnny” !
Something you learn as you grow up.
Well said SPCSC!
SPCSC, not in today’s culture. Cam Newton is example 1.
He has every right to act anyway he choses, and suffer the consequences as well. There’s no problem with lipping off for a season as long as you back it up. It also shouldn’t be much off a surprise when the blowback happens after you don’t.
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Was she talking about the GAME of football?
So what does that say about you bringing up Eleanor Roosevelt?
That often small minds like to think they’re great minds.
Now that’s an idea I agree with.
Someone give Cam a Band-Aid for his hurt feelings.
STOMP his A-R-S-E all the time and every time. A lenend in his own mind.
LEGEND in his own mind.
Frankly it doesn’t bother me how he acts. We have seen many rich types who act far more silly. His comments today about how he didn’t go after the loose ball because he didn’t want to get hurt, however, is a far more telling commentary about his attitude and his commitment than anything he can say.
Excuses excuses excuses. Bottom line, he is a terrible role model for children in sports. Maybe one day he will grow up, and a title may come with it.
No, I don’t think pampered boys by their parents ever grow up. Just like Johnny Manziel.
The man (boy) makes tens of million to play a game. When he won all season he came out in $5000 suits and answered every question. Now he gets his butt kicked and wears a hoodie and behaves like a child. man up.
In this world we can’t have our ways all the time. There are times losing helps build character whether you know it or not. The word team is still spell without an I, it takes a team to win or lose and they take winning and losing with the same tempo as a team! The Panthers lost but as a team and trying their best is a win as far as this old buck is concern! Cam Newton just need to grow up!
Good for Cam… I like his attitude… no one remembers who took 2nd place.
Except for Cam whose 2nd place finish made it more memorable for everyone as our attention was drawn to his poor behavior. Way to go Cam!!
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser,” Newton said today as players cleaned out their lockers at the team’s downtown stadium.
He’s a loser !!!
Cam needs to grow up.
It’s fun when you win but your character really shows when you lose. Cam is a looser. Him trying to defend his bad attitude and poor sportsmanship makes him a cry baby as well. What a great combination.
“I want players that hate to lose,” Gettleman said. “I want players that I know when the game is over they are crawling into the locker room and they need help getting their gear off and they are going to need time getting into the shower.
Wonder if he meant crawling like a bunch of cry babies??
Nice strategy by Denver, cut the head off the dangerous snake by puting massive amount of pressure on Newton and see if he cracks under the pressure and he sure did, including his Roberto Duran “No Mas” move of not going after the football when it was fumbled in the biggest game of his and his teammates career. As a running quarterback, he will have a short pro career as NFL defensive head hunters will always try to make the career ending but legal tackle when Newton becomes a runner. It is known for a fact coaches encourage and reward players who can “legally” take out a star offensive player in a game. Yes he is very big and strong but NFL defensive players are even bigger and stronger than Newton and will do what they did to Mariotta in his first season in the NFL. In his case appears his arrogance is masking his fear of failure and self-preservation over the good of the team that he has yet to overcome. That is what makes the NFL so appealing, given it’s real dangers of players ending up as vegetables with mental and emotional problems due to the repetitive brain concussion impacts, Newton is incredible, however the big Superbowl game revealed his shortcomings and remains to be seen if the Newton can return next year or a future season back to playing in the Superbowl or was his failure so great he self destructs like Johny Manziel. That is where coach Rivera comes in as daddy and guidance counselor to try to prevent that from happening.
Trying to justify a “crybaby whiner” like Cam Newton is futile….he is nothing but a loser. Nothing more and nothing less. And now he comes on today that he didn’t want to jump on the ball in that fumble because he didn’t want to get hurt….WTF……his teammates are playing their rear end off and he comes on and says he didn’t want to get hurt….yeah, right….what a loser and he is supposed to be the leader of his team and the face of his team and the NFL…..gimme a break…..NOTHING BUT A WHIMP!!!
That is quite an analysis you wrote there. It’s a well known fact that losers and wimps get to the Super Bowl. Yessir, you have that one all figured out!
Hossana is correct, Newton might have been key to getting to the Superbowl but WINNING the Superbowl requires Newton and his team to all be at another that they have yet to attain. Only can guess his arrogant attitude is his form of coping mechanism that he FAILED to help win the Superbowl game and become a true Champion. Cannot blame only Newtown but his coaches as well. Newton is not the “quick release” type like Manning and when Denver was so aggressive in getting at the quarterback, the Panthers could not take advantage of that with quick release/timed throws to his receivers for short passes that could extend to bigger gains. Panthers were like the Wahine volleyball team with Kim Willoughby as the #1 offensive player in the nation carrying the whole team into the playoffs. At a certain point in the playoffs a top team just double and triple team Willoughby and because the team was so one dimensional of depending only on Willoughby to carry the entire offensive load, once Willoughby was shut down, the Wahine team folded and lost. No question Panthers and Newton have the raw talent but strategy and the ability for ALL players to give it all to play as a team showed that
Denver was truly the superior team in the Superbowl. The bad azz attitude of Newton has only made it worse for himself and his team and is a stoopid a move as Trump indirectly calling Megyn Kelly a bim bo and skipping the last Iowa debate.
Correction: “..WINNING the Superbowl requires Newton and his team to all be at another LEVEL that they have yet to attain…”
NFL professional and great role model. Show me a loser and I’ll show you a poor loser! lol
Gifted athlete, immature adult! Got a couple 20somethings in my neighborhood just like that! Look around, they the entitlement generation. He just happens to be in the limelight. But, I still didn’t like it!
oh for god sake! these are all excuses for a pampered prima dona. you are a sore loser. period. end of sentence.
In life there a whole lot of things that we “don’t like to do” (like lose). Part of being a human, especially a grown man, is learn how to do the things we are supposed to do even though we don’t like doing them. Time to grow up.
Newton also stated why he didn’t go after a fumble and he stated he didn’t want to get hurt ! In the biggest game of his career. ??! Playing the most violent sport! Not wanting to do something like diving for a ball when the rest of the team is sacrificing their body to win the game. You’re in the wrong sport Newton!
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser,” Eloquently stated.
Define good loser for me.
I tell you what, I’ll give you my definition. A guy who hates to lose, but has the self control not to act like Cam Newton when he does lose.
Cam “Figgy” Newton. Just watching his little boy tantrums during the game was actually more entertaining than some of the commercials!! Another NFL player that feels he is “entitled”. Who cares!!
I’m sure everyone will get over it. The Panthers did an outstanding job and I look forward to the next season – with Newton in it. Go Panthers!
Not a Panther fan but I love Cam Newton. He’ll learn. This lost will make him a better player, a better man. Never ever saw a quarterback who gives the football to a little kid in the stands after every touchdown. Seeing those kids’ faces light up will make me forgive him for not being humble. His fans will still love’um. Those reporters also have a way to irk the #@^% out of athletes.
After all this, I am convinced everything he does is for himself. Starting at least from his college football days, and right on into the NFL. Everything he does appears to be for show.
grow up kiddie.
just remember who pays your salary. You turn off people and maybe the paying customers might not show up to watch your antics.
The Denver Broncos won the 50th Super Bowl! They played like Champs!
We need to just move on. Game’s over. Football season is over. On to basketball and baseball.
That’s right! Go Lakers!
Anyone who thinks that Mr. Newton is a “loser” cannot grasp the fact that he was the quarterback of a team playing in the Super Bowl. That fact alone should tell folks that he is at the very peak of his game. People want to diminish his accomplishments for some reason obviously don’t understand what it takes to get to the very top tier in sports. Yes, he was disappointed. Of course he was. And he couldn’t care less about what any of you think about that.
did you and i watch the same interview of him? he’s a punk kid. period
Never mind.
@ klastri – you are correct. People forget that he is also the NFL League MVP. Of all the players on all the teams, he is the most valuable.
Are you kidding? NFL is ONLY Entertainment and is dependent on selling something that people will buy. NFL has to sell itself as “America’s game” and not a group of wife/girlfriend abusers (Ray Rice), murderers (Aaron Hernandez, Ray Lewis), thugs (Ndamukong Suh), posers (Bosworth, Manziel) and now arrogant sore losers who pantied out in not going after a fumble. That kind of NFL player puts a big black eye to all of the NFL “brand” they are trying to convey and garans, through back channels, the NFL and Panther front office is telling Newton to back off with the attitude. Public relations and appearance is everything in the NFL and Newton right now is bad for the Panthers and the NFL in general.
Cam hands out footballs to kids, Cam is a role model, do we want kids to act like Cam?
Why is he a role model? You think sports figures (entertainers) are role models? I sure hope you aren’t a parent.
You seem to know sooo much about Newton! You don’t think he’s a role model? Try ask any young kid that knows who he is and you will get your answer! By the way, I sure hope that YOU aren’t a parent!!!!!
His coach, Ron Rivera, made a good point about giving him more time to address the media, for the sake of the public. And, I like what he said how people handle different kind of losses differently. Cam is only human.
Hey Cam and those who drink the kool aid too deeply, football is game! Just a game! It’s an intrinsically meaningless game! It’s guys who most of their lives intensely train their minds and bodies to withstand punishment to get a brown ball over a white line while other guys try to help or hinder him. Guys who willfully choose to put themselves in a game where they’ll try to (within the rules) hurt the other guys or know they be hurt. Ok, maybe not the guys who throw up or kick the brown ball. They do all this for the love of a game (or gain). Yes there’s danger that is why they wear pads. But let’s put this game in perspective – an exciting, heart-pounding, gut-wrenching . . . game.
While they’re playing their game, they’re not defending our country, our state, our city or neighborhoods from people trying to hurt, cheat, steal or kill us. Those guys are true heroes who knowingly put themselves at death’s doorstep because they deemed the citizens of this great nation worthy of protection. These guys have the right to show their hurts.
I love this game. I don’t like to watch espn or read the sports page when my team loses and soak up every tidbit of media about my team when they win. Heck I played this game in my younger days.
What can help you man up when you lose a game, Cam, is that you embrace in your heart that the good Lord gave you exceptional talents and you played your heart out between the game’s striped lines. Now take another shower and go help cheer up some kids with cancer, give scholarship to poor kids, and tell them in America you can live out our dreams. And do me a favor, pray for yourself in private.
Looks like you don’t actually know anything about Mr. Newton. He already has a charitable foundation (established long before you recommended it) and he gives generously to a variety of causes.
Cam didn’t do himself any favors, nor did he gain any fans. Immensely talented, a little over the top flamboyant, and now we know him to be petulant. I think it’s more generational than anything. Being part of the “look at me” generation, is something I don’t relate to. We are looking Cam, shape up and stop acting like a punk.
Don’t criticize the Cam; he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
fig Newton is nothing more than the biggest loser! His immature reaction then and now proves his arrogance. I’m still smiling from ear to ear over the fact that he crashed and burned on the biggest stage of football. If he keeps his ridiculous antics up, he will find more and more negatives than positives. One wins with humbleness while the other loses win grace to fight another day! Learn Newton, or you will ALWAYS be a loser in everyone’s eyes.
Cam try to get a regular job like us see how it feels . some role model you are . athletes are entertainers not to be looked up to as role models, doctors , teachers , professors , hard working people are. cam you are lucky you have some god given gift to make it as a professional athlete . grow up
I’m sure Mr. Newton is very disappointed you don’t approve of him. I sure would be!
I thought his reformation was a sham. Back to the old ways.
Like it or not, Cam is a role model. Just a bad role model. That’s no big deal, it takes all kinds. Kids should be wise enough to choose.
Clearly Cam never took the time to change his diaper during the game, was upset at the discomfort it was giving him.
He needs to Man Up to his failure to be a professional, admit he had been beaten, give credit where credit is due.
Cam needs to wipe his nose, change his diaper, clean up his act and start over. Rookies…………….
Mr. Newton is one of the most successful athletes in any professional sport anywhere. Your comment makes absolutely no sense. None.
Newton saying “your expectations will never exceed mine” is a prime example of arrogance to the hilt! Who is he to belittle everyone by making such a statement. What any of us try to do to succeed in life is an expectation which we ALL try to fulfill. Wether its paying a mortgage, holding a substantial job, putting our kids through school; these are all expectations Mr Newton, and I for one think they are important to ME and thats all that counts!
I don’t understand how a literate adult could possibly interpret Mr. Newton’s comment the way you did. He holds himself to a higher standard than anyone else does. What does that have to do with putting your kids through school or paying a mortgage? Who cares about you? He was talking about the expectations he has for himself. Did you actually read the article?
I sure did..DID YOU?????
If you think he was being modest about his expectations, then you should read it again and again because you totally missed his arrogance spilling over that his expectations are more important or should i say at a higher level than the rest of us lowly people….you included!