Former Carolina star quarterback Cam Newton doubled down on current feedback that the Panthers had “a locker room of losers” earlier than drafting him with the primary total choose in 2011, saying his remarks had been “aggressive” however “true.”
Newton stated throughout Thursday’s “4th and 1 with Cam Newton” podcast that he was referring to the group’s efficiency as an entire and never particular person gamers.
“When did we develop into so delicate?” Newton stated. “When did we develop into so delicate to essentially talking what the fact is? A locker room filled with losers? Aggressive, nevertheless it’s true.”
A number of former teammates, together with star vast receiver Steve Smith Sr., took exception to feedback Newton made throughout an look on a podcast with Colorado vast receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter main as much as the Tremendous Bowl. He spoke concerning the stress Hunter may face if he’s drafted with the No. 1 choose.
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Newton informed Hunter he has “no approach of impacting the sport the best way a quarterback does” and added: “I went right into a locker room of losers. Simply trustworthy. Guys did not know win; guys did not know put together. They did not take themselves critical to understand we was 2-14. There was a whole lot of 2-14 within the mentality of these guys.”
These feedback did not sit effectively with Smith, the most efficient receiver ever to put on a Panthers uniform and one in every of 15 finalists for the 2025 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. A member of that 2010 group, he made his emotions clear via a number of posts on X.
“53 man locker room — 1 = 52 losers. Wow… breaking information to 89,” Smith posted together with an angry-face emoji.
Newton stated he has “no quarrel” with Smith and understands why he took exception. However he wasn’t backing down.
“I am not particularly speaking about these guys,” Newton stated on his podcast. “I am speaking concerning the tradition that was there previous to me coming into the locker room — and it was a losers’ mentality.”
Newton stated the Panthers nonetheless had it his first two seasons once they went 6-10 and 7-9. He additionally stated he wanted to discover ways to win within the NFL.
Issues began to return collectively in 2013, when Carolina went 12-4 earlier than dropping to the San Francisco 49ers within the divisional spherical. The 2015 group went 15-1 and made the Tremendous Bowl, with Newton profitable league MVP honors that season.
“Is it me saying that, ‘Oh once I got here, I made all the things [better]?'” he stated. “No. I by no means stated that. What I stated was if you happen to’re getting drafted No. 1, you are going to a nasty soccer group. That is information. And that is the purpose that I used to be making an attempt to inform Travis Hunter. You see what I am saying? For me, everyone is so shocked, like, ‘Oh, Cam stated this.’ Bro, it is the reality. It is the reality.”
