Abdelrahman
Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton recently stirred up controversy with his comments about the team’s dynamics when he joined in 2011. While his assertion—that the number one draft pick often joins a struggling franchise—is valid, his description of the Panthers as a “locker room full of losers” may have crossed a line.
This sentiment didn’t go unnoticed by former teammates, including Steve Smith Sr., who promptly responded to Newton’s remarks. Other ex-Panthers players voiced their displeasure as well.
“For him to say we were losers was a slap in the face,” remarked Captain Munnerlyn, a former Panthers cornerback, in an interview with Joseph Person from The Athletic. “This was a team just two years removed from competing in the NFC divisional round against the Arizona Cardinals. Sure, we lost some key players and faced a tough season with Checkdown Jimmy Clausen at quarterback, but to label us as losers is just outrageous.”
Former defensive end Charles Johnson also expressed his disapproval on social media, stating, “A professional calling his teammates losers will never sit well with me. Everyone fights together; it’s not just one person’s efforts that lead to victory. That’s simply ego speaking! This is a team sport, so respect your teammates.”
Johnson added, “Damn, using the term ‘losers’ is shocking! I had my best season in 2010. I have plenty of stories about Cam if we’re going to discuss this further.”
Pro Bowl tackle Jordan Gross, who played during the Panthers’ challenging 2-14 season that secured the top draft pick in 2011, also commented.
Munnerlyn acknowledged that Newton might be trying to enhance his presence in the media. “He wants to stay relevant,” Munnerlyn told Person. “He’s engaging in the media with his podcasts and appearances on First Take, which is great. I’m happy for him, but he sometimes says things just to grab attention. If you know Cam, that’s part of who he is.”
“At this point, he doesn’t need to make controversial statements to stay in the limelight. He already transformed a franchise and is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in Panthers history—especially at quarterback,” he added.
As of now, Newton hasn’t publicly addressed the controversy on social platforms but could potentially share his thoughts either on his podcast or during a segment on First Take.
It may be beneficial for him to recognize that his choice of words was inappropriate. Admitting he may have gone a bit overboard could ease the situation. After all, being spontaneous in conversation can lead to missteps; it happens to everyone.
The best approach for Cam moving forward would be to simply acknowledge his comment was a poor choice. Standing firm on this issue will likely only escalate the situation further.
