By Andrew Mason, Staff Reporter.
After losing Super Bowl 50, the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton is receiving heat from the media for the way he handled himself during his postgame interview. As reporters asked Newton questions about the loss, he replied with short and one word answers, which ultimately led up to Newton standing up, muttering “I’m done,” and walking off the stage. His actions drew in a lot of criticism from sports analysts, fans and sports figures alike who all say that this is not how the reigning MVP of the league should act.
Now there are speculations going around as to why Newton acted this way. In videos of Newton’s interview, Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris can be heard quite clearly giving his post-game interview behind a black curtain, which at one point Harris says, “…force y’all to throw the ball. Can you throw the ball?” People are saying Harris’ comments are what drove Newton away from the podium, but it comes down to this: Can anyone really be mad at Newton for being upset over such a big loss?
My question is, why is the media making such a huge deal out of this? Is it just because it’s Cam Newton they get to criticize? Peyton Manning walked off the field without shaking the opponent’s hand after his Super Bowl loss in 2010, where were the complaints about that? Give the guy a break. A lot of the analysts and fans who come out and attack Newton for his antics should try to see things from his perspective. Think about it: you just played the most important game of your life. Your offense, who averaged 31.2 points per game, just got completely dominated, and now you have to step up to the podium to tell reporters why your team failed on football’s biggest stage. Sure you can say that he probably could have handled himself better, but that’s a lot of disappointment and heartbreak for a young quarterback deal with.
It’s unimaginable to most of us what that will ever feel like, so try and level with him a bit before you cast “cry baby” and “sore loser” comments.
