Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton has lessons to learn. But it’s time to put what he’s being criticized for in perspective.
By William Chase
Okay, it’s time to get to the root of something here.
First off, I’m not going to sit here and defend everything Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton does. He showed a bit of an ugly side during the Super Bowl with his character:
Fact.
As an MVP and new face of the league, he has to act as such. I’m still not going to vilify him in the wake of his Super Bowl meltdown. Or whatever you want to call it.
On a day when we should be talking about the Denver Broncos impressive win, and quarterback Peyton Manning perhaps going out on top, we’re also talking about the antics of Newton.
Deservedly so. And of course he doesn’t help himself when he opens his mouth, or in this case, runs out of the postgame press conference.
But considering the antics, and the on-field production of him hitting the deck when it was all but official Denver had sealed the victory, it probably was in Cam’s best interest to say as little as possible, and just get out of there.
That’s not exactly how it works with the media, especially when you’re in sports, an entertainment business, and especially when you talk big when you win. But considering his antics, what makes anyone think he wasn’t going to further soil his reputation by opening his mouth and saying something else he’d regret?
It’s obvious he wasn’t going to flip that switch and suddenly be the mature Cam Newton he would need to be at that moment. Newton is already being crushed today by fans and media; does anyone really think he was suddenly going to be forthright and contrite?
The dab is dead — until further notice https://t.co/6VzfP1O425
— New York Post (@nypost) February 8, 2016
He, undoubtedly, learned a bit of humility and can apply this lesson going forward. The issue with Cam Newton is about how he conducts himself. Some love it, some hate it. Last night was a forgettable night for Newton all the way around. But this isn’t the computer stealing Cameron Newton.
The Greg Hardy news had everyone up in arms initially, and of course the Dallas Cowboys being out of the playoff picture keeps him out of the news.
It should still appall people that he’s in the league.
Not being relevant on the football field doesn’t stop probably soon-to-be-former Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Johnny Manziel from stealing headlines with his own off-field issues.
The latter two are a few examples of players in the news for the wrong reasons. Legal reasons. They help represent what’s wrong with the NFL and how unfortunately prevalent assault cases may be among the league.
Newton can learn valuable lessons from this Super Bowl defeat, and though the criticism is warranted, he is not having to question his morality as far as being a person in the name of the law—today—computer theft notwithstanding.
Again, I’m not defending Newton here. He does need to grow up. But what’s done is done, and the Broncos did win this game.
Sometimes though, If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all still goes a long way.
