by: Steve Samra 25 seconds ago SamraSource
Cam Newton knows firsthand what it’s like to live under the microscope as an NFL quarterback. The former league MVP recently spoke out about Shedeur Sanders , who’s been the subject of heavy discussion for his behavior during his early days with the Cleveland Browns .
Newton drew from his own experience after losing the Super Bowl with the Carolina Panthers . The former Auburn Tiger s star highlighted how your words and actions with the media emotions can often spiral out of control.
“I’ll give you a blast from the past real quick. After playing in the Super Bowl — arguably the biggest game in all of sports — you’re asked questions in the moment. You’re frustrated, you don’t even know how your emotions are going to be interpreted,” Newton stated, via First Take . “For me, I didn’t handle it in the most professional way.
“Some said it was immature, some said it wasn’t right. But I’ll say this: I deserved the ridicule. I knew who I was, I knew how I was supposed to handle that situation — and I was the starting quarterback.”
For Newton, that perspective makes him more sympathetic to what Sanders is navigating now: “Anytime people talk about Shedeur Sanders, there’s always this pretense. It sounds like, ‘Hey, I’m a Shedeur Sanders fan, but…’ And I’ll give you another analogy. Anytime someone starts by saying, ‘I don’t mean to be disrespectful,’ usually they’re about to say something disrespectful,” the former Heisman winner added.
“So when people say certain things about Shedeur Sanders, how’s he supposed to go about it? Especially when I’ve said it publicly — I don’t think the Cleveland Browns really want him to succeed. Now you’re giving a mic to a third-string quarterback.”
Newton noted that most casual fans couldn’t even name the third-string quarterback on their favorite team, which makes the spotlight on Sanders unusual. It’s an added pressure that most players trying to find their footing in the NFL don’t usually face.
“I’d challenge anyone to name all 32 teams’ third-string quarterbacks,” the ESPN analyst exclaimed. “Matter of fact, just give me one from your division. You can’t. It’s irrelevant. We’re only talking about this because it’s Shedeur Sanders.