A Former NFL Coach Said Cam Newton Was ‘Soft’ Because He Wore Gold MVP Cleats

Super Bowl 50 - Carolina Panthers v Denver Broncos
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Since Super Bowl 50, the Cam Newton hot takes have been flying at warp speed. During pre-game warmups, Newton took the field in gold cleats that said “MVP” on them, fitting considering he had just been named the league’s regular season MVP. Cam changed back into blue cleats before the game, but the gold cleats were absolute fire for what it’s worth. However, not everyone shared that opinion. Former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel says he predicted that the gold cleats meant trouble.

“All of the numbers pointed to Carolina. And when I saw Cam Newton walk out in gold shoes — ‘MVP’ — I switched my mind, essentially, right then,” Fassel said on Mile High Sports 1340. “I said, ‘That’s not what a starting quarterback, MVP, leading his team — and I had a lot of respect for him during the season — that’s not what happens.’ You don’t do that. And I said, ‘This guy’s already become soft,’ and that’s what he was.”

There are numerous reasons—some legitimate, some not—to be mad online about Cam Newton, but this take somehow supersedes all of them. Newton accounted for 50 touchdowns, revolutionized the quarterback position, and put on excellent dance performances all season. But suddenly, gold cleats zapped all of his majestic powers.

Maybe Fassel has a point. Maybe his lone Super Bowl appearance in 2000 gave him some keen insight on how Super Bowls are lost. Or maybe, just maybe, people need to put down their Cam Newton takes, go outside, and breathe some fresh air.

(Via Pro Football Talk)

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