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[Randolph Freelander]

I have historically not been the biggest Cam Newton supporter. I never much cared for the Superman thing (put me in the camp that thinks QBs should be more business-like, for whatever reason), nor the sulking on the sidelines. But to be honest, those are years old beefs and I'm also not a Panthers fan despite being born and raised in North Carolina and living in Charlotte now, which also colors my perception.

But after seeing the way he brightens little kids' day after scoring and handing them the football? I can't say nothing bad about him. He can sulk, celebrate, dab, whatever. He's making kids smile and that covers a multitude of relatively minor quibbles.

 

[hitmon]

I didn't think his post-game interview was that bad. He answered the questions he was asked for the most part.

 

[Apath]

Cam rushes all the time and takes hits he could avoid to try and get a few extra yards.

Zero chance he didn't go for the fumble out of fear for his own safety. Maybe if this is your first time watching him play it looks like that.

 

[shadowsdarknes]

I also do not like players using the number 1 for their jerseys.

 

[The Albatross]

It's just a trained reflex. People can call him a pussy or gutless or whatever, but it was 100% the thousands and thousands of times that he's been told that he needs to protect himself at all costs because the team is done without him. Sometimes the urgency of immediate circumstances can't break through that in the half second it takes a moment to pass.

It's the same reason that Denver got that huge punt return -- when you get within 6 inches of a returner and the ball is still at the peak of the kick, don't hit him, he's called a fair catch. Because if he was stupid enough to not call a fair catch, you'd straight murder him. 99 times out of 100, anyway. The half second it took the Panthers to realize that the guy caught the ball without calling a fair catch despite being surrounded by 3 tacklers was enough for him to break out for 61 yards.

Are we blaming the coaches here?

Seems spurious that he doesn't listen to those warnings for an extra 2 or 3 yards on a meaningless midseason scramble, yet when he fumbles the ball in the 4th quarter of the biggest game of his career this is the moment he decides to protect himself?

 

[Shamrock7r]

Cam rushes all the time and takes hits he could avoid to try and get a few extra yards.

Zero chance he didn't go for the fumble out of fear for his own safety. Maybe if this is your first time watching him play it looks like that.

I think Cam sustained some kind of chest injury earlier in the game. He suddenly stopped rushing, and there were a few clips of him grabbing his chest on the sidelines. That probably played into it. Wouldn't be surprised if it's revealed he had some cracked ribs or something. Just guessing though.

 

[Locked Out]

if Peyton or Tom Brady did that there'd be excuses about how they are trying to preserve their bodies.

What a load of shit. Brady's actually been the opposite. He threw his body into other players in big games and caught shit for it. He's the most notorious short yardage QB in the league. Cam is getting shit for it justifiably because it looked like a cowardly move. The whole notion that people only hate Cam because he's black is so damn stupid. Many people hate him because he's one of the absolute biggest babies in the league when his team loses. It's fine to hate losing. It's another thing to act like a gigantic baby the way he does.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Lots of interesting tweets being thrown his way right now

 

[The Albatross]

I didn't think his post-game interview was that bad. He answered the questions he was asked for the most part.

Probably the worst super bowl QB post game interview of all time. At least, I can't think of any other that's worse.

 

[The Albatross]

I think Cam sustained some kind of chest injury earlier in the game. He suddenly stopped rushing, and there were a few clips of him grabbing his chest on the sidelines. That probably played into it. Wouldn't be surprised if it's revealed he had some cracked ribs or something. Just guessing though.

You're right. It was a shoulder injury to his left arm when he got clocked earlier on one of his 3rd down throws in the 2nd or 3rd. He got up flavoring his left shoulder. Forgot about that

 

[shadowsdarknes]

What a load of shit. Brady's actually been the opposite. He threw his body into other players in big games and caught shit for it. He's the most notorious short yardage QB in the league. Cam is getting shit for it justifiably because it looked like a cowardly move. The whole notion that people only hate Cam because he's black is so damn stupid. Many people hate him because he's one of the absolute biggest babies in the league when his team loses. It's fine to hate losing. It's another thing to act like a gigantic baby the way he does.

And considering he's only 26 and only had one successful season, I don't see why he gets to act like that. It should be a humbling experience to lead a team to 18-2.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

Lots of interesting tweets being thrown his way right now

Interesting how?

 

[superdeluxe]

I didn't think his post-game interview was that bad. He answered the questions he was asked for the most part.

What? Dude got up right in the middle of a question

 

[LyleLanley]

Interesting how?

I'm not even going to check but I think we both know the answer to this.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

I'm not even going to check but I think we both know the answer to this.

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of...

 

[Kieli]

I've hated Cam since he took money at Auburn, and gave that shit-eating grin like he knew he wasn't gonna get caught. Anyway I'm still annoyed that he got away with it.

Has nothing to do with him being black. I think the NFL should encourage their players to be more emotive in general. I think the "infamous" Richard Sherman interview was one of my favorite NFL moments ever.

What's wrong with college athletes making money?

 

[hitmon]

What? Dude got up right in the middle of a question

I thought the players are only required to do a post game interview for a certain amount of time. It's not like he didn't answer any questions. I'm not sure how many times he has to restate how his team got outplayed. Obviously he still has some growing up to do, but I don't think it is as bad as some people are making it out to be.

 

[Burt]

Are we blaming the coaches here?

Seems spurious that he doesn't listen to those warnings for an extra 2 or 3 yards on a meaningless midseason scramble, yet when he fumbles the ball in the 4th quarter of the biggest game of his career this is the moment he decides to protect himself?

No one's blaming coaches. That's how the game is played universally, even when you're a running quarterback like Cam Newton. It isn't like he's using his helmet as a linebacker battering ram. The fact that it was a split second of post ball-swat chaos and wasn't a running play with him trying to stretch for those extra 2-3 yards is exactly why it happened. Because, like I said, it was a reflex, not a decision.

Saying that he actively decided to wuss out on a 4th quarter Super Bowl fumble would be flimsy. But what I'm saying is that there was no decision. He wasn't in 'running mode' where the objective is to get the first down, he was in 'pocket mode' where the objective is to not get crushed. I'm not saying that he's blameless, just that people who are acting like he's afraid to put his body out there are wrong.

 

[shadowsdarknes]

What's wrong with college athletes making money?

It's one thing to advocate that the NCAA change its policy, and its another to break the rules.

 

[timetokill]

What's wrong with college athletes making money?

Honestly, it's a huge can of worms. The NCAA needs drastic change, but I don't think breaking rules in the meantime is a great idea. The SEC has enough of a leg up without getting away with breaking rules like this and getting away with it.

It's one thing to advocate that the NCAA change its policy, and its another to break the rules.

Yep.


I can admit that I'm bitter that USC got hammered so hard by the NCAA (and are getting rightfully sued for it now) and Cam got away with it. Ultimately it comes down to "sports hate." It's tribal and silly but it's also part of what's so fun about sports.

And as I said, I hadn't paid much attention to Cam after college. All I knew was that he was mediocre before this year. I saw him in the playoffs this year and I didn't get what the big deal was with his antics, I actually thought they were fun to watch, and happy kids is always a good look. I want to see more of that, more of Sherman's post-game interviews, and so on. It's entertaining. It's engaging. I'm tired of the No Fun League's attempts to quash all this stuff or wring their hands about what "the youth" (and especially black youth) are doing these days.

Unfortunately Cam really gave a bad look today, and I don't mean on the field.

 

[MidgarBlowedUp]

At least Cam played in this superbowl. Manning just stood around the whole time. If you replaced Cam with Manning the entire Panthers offense would be called the Mannequins.

 

[manfestival]

At least Cam played in this superbowl. Manning just stood around the whole time. If you replaced Cam with Manning the entire Panthers offense would be called the Mannequins.

don't be so salty that manning won. its just a game bro

 

[3N16MA]

Thug Newton lost and will now learn to be a good boy and stop having fun while playing a game!

I'm sure that is what the losers are thinking that hate on the guy becuase he is black and dares to have some fun.

 

[GorillaJu]

Thug Newton lost and will now learn to be a good boy and stop having fun while playing a game!

I'm sure that is what the losers are thinking that hate on the guy becuase he is black and dares to have some fun.

Yeah I don't know if it's just me, but making an obviously racist and hurtful statement and then saying "I bet that's what those guys are saying" doesn't seem like a very helpful thing to do.

 

[3N16MA]

Yeah I don't know if it's just me, but making an obviously racist and hurtful statement and then saying "I bet that's what those guys are saying" doesn't seem like a very helpful thing to do.

Just showing how idiotic it is. There are people that are eating this up simply because they view Newton as some kind of thug. As if he deserves this loss.

The guy is talented and does a dance after a TD. I'm not seeing the problem here and he is playing a game. Brett Farve ran around the field and acted like an excited kid and it was all good. It's obvious that the fact that he is black rubs some idiots the wrong way.

 

[NolbertoS]

This needs to be photoshopped into a "Nope" GIF.

I thought this was better

I'm not a Cam Newton fan either. I think the guy talked to much smack when winning, but was not graceful in defeat when losing. You can talk smack all you want, but if you lose badly, like they did today, then at least be gracious enough to acknowledge that this day wasn't your day. I'm sure he'll bounce back from this experience anyways.

 

[3N16MA]

I thought this was better

I'm not a Cam Newton fan either. I think the guy talked to much smack when winning, but was not graceful in defeat when losing. You can talk smack all you want, but if you lose badly, like they did today, then at least be gracious enough to acknowledge that this day wasn't your day. I'm sure he'll bounce back from this experience anyways.

What exactly did he say? Newton seemed to be having fun all season and the Panthers as a whole just seemed confident. Maybe I missed his smack.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

At least Cam played in this superbowl. Manning just stood around the whole time. If you replaced Cam with Manning the entire Panthers offense would be called the Mannequins.

Yeah Manning just stood there and Newton just laid there (because the Broncos D kept introducing him to the turf).

Honestly, after so many years of Manning leading teams to near-perfect seasons and playoff runs with almost zero help from the defense (or run game), it's kinda fitting that he'd get this championship on the back of the defense.

 

[MushroomSamba]

Just showing how idiotic it is. There are people that are eating this up simply because they view Newton as some kind of thug. As if he deserves this loss.

The guy is talented and does a dance after a TD. I'm not seeing the problem here and he is playing a game. Brett Farve ran around the field and acted like an excited kid and it was all good. It's obvious that the fact that he is black rubs some idiots the wrong way.

lol, the guy taunts and celebrates when things are going well, then turns into the biggest cry baby and can't handle a post-game interview once things don't go his way. He's gonna get poked fun of, regardless of race. Sorry.

 

[Jerm411]

lol, the guy taunts and celebrates when things are going well, then turns into the biggest cry baby and can't handle a post-game interview once things don't go his way. He's gonna get poked fun of, regardless of race. Sorry.

Name an NFL player or any athlete for that matter that doesn't do that....

 

[AstroZombie]

Almost any player would be eviscerated by the media for that shameful performance last night but I guess that's racist. Can't just say he choked and move on.

 

[Cagey]

Fair or unfair, this play is Cam Newton's legacy until he wins a Super Bowl.

if Peyton or Tom Brady did that there'd be excuses about how they are trying to preserve their bodies.

Arguing by counterfactual only works when there's a basis to believe the counterfactual could happen or the predicted outcome. Brady is Kobe/MJ-levels of maniacally competitive, he's not likely to bail on that ball; and if he did, he'd get criticized for not sacrificing himself when the fate of the Super Bowl rests on the outcome of the play. Peyton isn't Brady-tier competitive but he's competitive enough, and he'd get the same criticism.

Argue Cam gets more criticism than they would for that situation, if you want, if that's something you think can be claimed as anything stronger than just your opinion. That's about as much as you can do.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

lol, the guy taunts and celebrates when things are going well, then turns into the biggest cry baby and can't handle a post-game interview once things don't go his way. He's gonna get poked fun of, regardless of race. Sorry.

From 670 The Score in Chicago. Jason is a midday host.

 

[talisayNon]

At least Cam doesnt whine like a bitch for flags like a Brady or Manning. That's more offensive to me.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

Name an NFL player or any athlete for that matter that doesn't do that....

Seriously? Most of them don't do that. Especially most QBs. They're team leaders. He needs to act like one.

From 670 The Score in Chicago. Jason is a midday host.

Disgusting.

But let's not pretend this jackass represents everyone who hates Newton.

At least Cam doesnt whine like a bitch for flags like a Brady or Manning. That's more offensive to me.

Really? Watch the last series he was on the field. He looked like an absolute bitch crying to the ref and flopping around on the ground throwing a tantrum when he didn't get a roughing flag.

I'll GIF it at some point.

 

[AstroZombie]

Goff is a huge Cam fan. That is likely sarcasm.

 

[Michael F. Assbender]

Goff is a huge Cam fan. That is likely sarcasm.

It absolutely was. Which is why that dickhead then went at him with that racist BS.

 

[talisayNon]

Seriously? Most of them don't do that. Especially most QBs. They're team leaders. He needs to act like one.



Disgusting.

But let's not pretend this jackass represents everyone who hates Newton.



Really? Watch the last series he was on the field. He looked like an absolute bitch crying to the ref and flopping around on the ground throwing a tantrum when he didn't get a roughing flag.

I'll GIF it at some point.

yea 1 instance of Cam doing it versus Brady constantly running in referee's face to scream at them when they don't call pass interference or roughing the passer.

But then he's just seen as a "competitor"

LOL

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Disgusting.

But let's not pretend this jackass represents everyone who hates Newton.

It was an example demonstrating how the criticism of Newton comes from a different place.

Goff is a huge Cam fan. That is likely sarcasm.

I know Goff was being sarcastic.

 

[Brian Fellows]

I hate him because he's an obnoxious human being and has been since his days at Auburn. Seeing him fail was quite delightful.

 

[killertofu]

I'm still salty that he stole that laptop at UF and then ended up winning a National Championship at Auburn -___-

 

[MushroomSamba]

Name an NFL player or any athlete for that matter that doesn't do that....

Name an NFL player that doesn't get made fun of for that, lol. That's the point. People love watching showboats get shown up themselves.

 

[Sephzilla]

I actually don't mind Cam Newton but I lost some respect for him after the Super Bowl. I don't think he's entirely ready for prime time

• Not diving on a fumble and instead backing away from the pile
• 3rd and 24 on the Panthers last drive and he just throws the ball out of bounds, at least give your receivers a shot
• Cam whining to the ref begging for a roughing play after said 3rd and 24 pass. Cam, you're not going to get that call if you're clearly just bailing out of the play in general.
• The whole post game press conference

After watching the Super Bowl I also think the NFL needs to revise the intentional grounding rule. There were at least 3 or 4 plays that should have been flagged against Cam.

 

[LosDaddie]

Some of the hate is because of race (just as some of the love is). Some of it is due to his showboating.

Personally, I was rooting for root ng for Manning to win just for the whining on GAF and other social media.

 

[Jerm411]

Name an NFL player that doesn't get made fun of for that, lol. That's the point. People love watching showboats get shown up themselves.

I never saw people criticizing Brett Favre for running around like a maniac or Aaron Rodgers when he was going "discount double check" on everyone...that's just a couple.

 

[Locked Out]

At least Cam doesnt whine like a bitch for flags like a Brady or Manning. That's more offensive to me.

You didn't watch the super bowl.

 

[MushroomSamba]

I never saw people criticizing Brett Favre for running around like a maniac or Aaron Rodgers when he was going "discount double check" on everyone...that's just a couple.

They probably got the same amount of flak Ray Lewis and Richard Sherman get for their fun.

 

[Jerm411]

They probably got the same amount of flak Ray Lewis and Richard Sherman get for their fun.

Oh I agree in that regard...trust me.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

They probably got the same amount of flak Ray Lewis and Richard Sherman get for their fun.

The important part is the tone, not the amount.

At least Cam doesnt whine like a bitch for flags like a Brady or Manning. That's more offensive to me.

Um...

 

[Locked Out]

They probably got the same amount of flak Ray Lewis and Richard Sherman get for their fun.

Yeah, but how many times did Ray do his dance when his team was getting destroyed. Cam does the superman regardless of his team's position in the game, which rightly rubs a lot of people the wrong way.