Cam Newton didn’t have much to say to the media after losing the Super Bowl. He mumbled about seven answers over three minutes before walking out, causing many to say he’s a sore loser who disrespected the blah blah blah media entitlement.
Two days later, with the Carolina Panthers cleaning out their lockers, Newton spoke to the media and confirmed that notion.
Cam Newton: "I'm a sore loser. I hate losing. You show me a good loser. I'll show you a loser." #NFL #Panthers pic.twitter.com/scWDnVrCZG
— Ron Clements (@Ron_Clements) February 9, 2016
Will that be a high enough level of contrition to appease football writers? He was asked specifically about dealing with the media after the game and basically said to get off his jock and stop comparing him to other people.
Cam talking with us about how he handled the post SB presser. pic.twitter.com/QInV9XH52t
— Jeff Zell (@Jeff_Zell) February 9, 2016
“You know, quotes about, ‘What if this person was in that situation? How would he have handled it? Well, we’ve seen this person do that. How would he have handled it?’ The truth of the matter is, I’m not trying to be this person, nor I’m not trying to be that person. I’ve said it since Day 1 — I am who I am. I know what I’m capable of and I know where I’m going. And I don’t have to conform to anybody else’s wants for me to do.”
That’s a really interesting quote but one that is only out there because he didn’t say much Sunday. Newton spoke for nearly 10 minutes and touched on some of the subjects he didn’t feel like talking about Sunday, so let’s see what the media missed.
Cam: We will be back. I mean that
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 9, 2016
Damn, he said the Panthers will be back? That’s nuts. Why are we just finding this out Tuesday? You’re telling me all those stories written Sunday could have had the information that the Panthers would play football next season? Can the NFL fine Newton for withholding this and ruining sacred football stories written by sacred football people?
What about that fumble he didn’t recover late in the game?
Cam: "I don't dive on 1 fumble because the way my leg was– it could have been (contorted) in a way. OK, you say my effort. I didn't dive…
— Joe Person (@josephperson) February 9, 2016
"…down. I fumbled. That's fine. But we didn't lose that game because of that fumble. I can tell you that" — Cam
— Joe Person (@josephperson) February 9, 2016
Oh. So he didn’t dive for the ball because of fear of injury? OK, that’s not good. That’s also something he could have said Sunday. He’s right that the Panthers were losing that game anyway in all likelihood, but man, stick your hands in there.
But most of the interesting things Newton said Tuesday were about how he didn’t say much Sunday. He’s not the first athlete to clam up after a soul-crushing loss in a championship and he certainly didn’t prevent anyone from doing their jobs.
