Leading the Carolina Panthers on a historic 15-1 regular season run and taking the team to the Super Bowl, Cam Newton lead a very abbreviated press conference in the wake of the 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos. Newton didn’t apologize for his behavior in cutting the press conference short, admitting he’s a “sore loser” and that he wasn’t going to “bend for anybody’s expectations.”
However, the former 2011 Heisman Trophy winner has since changed his tune, as he is taking some responsibility for his behavior during the post-game press conference, in which he gave very abbreviated answers to questions before getting up and walking out in the middle of the press conference after only a few minutes. In the latest edition of Ebony Magazine, Newton admitted that he could have handled the situation better and not behaved in the manner that he did.
“The truth is, I represent something way bigger than myself,” Newton told the magazine. “I’m doing it for [my fans and family] and I felt like I let them down.”
In his most extensive interview since the end of the Super Bowl, Newton told Ebony that he didn’t really have much time to process the team’s loss, and having the Broncos in the same room on the other side of the curtain discussing their victory only added to his frustration. The situation was not an ideal one for the young quarterback coming off of his team’s best season only to fall short of the Super Bowl.
“Who is anyone to tell me, ‘Man, it’s just an interview,’” Newton said. “You haven’t been in that situation. You didn’t have millions of people watching you. Your heart wasn’t pumping [with] the embarrassment or the anxiety of the stress of dealing with that type of game.
“I just wasn’t ready to talk. Was I mad? Hell, yeah! But there could have been a better way to control it, and that’s why I think having more time would have helped.”
It is certainly a positive sign that Newton has since owned up to this mistake and expressed himself and his mindset after the end of the game. Having had close to four months to process the loss certainly helps in regaining a new perspective on the situation, Newton’s explanation is certainly a valid one people should take into consideration, especially given the odd setup of having both press conferences taking place in a room where players could hear each other. His press conference behavior drew criticism from both football fans, players, and commentators alike, but the fact that he has now taken it upon himself to take responsibility for it should be a sign of progress of his continual development as an NFL quarterback.
[ESPN]
