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Outside of the city of Denver, which is rightfully celebrating a well-deserved Super Bowl win for their Denver Broncos, it seems that almost everyone is talking about Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton‘s walking out of his postgame press conference as much or even MORE than the dominant performance that won the Broncos their 3rd Lombardi Trophy.
It has been well-established already this season that Newton is one of the most polarizing figures in all of sports. His on-field celebrations and acting as the head cheerleader on the sidelines as games wind down have been the focus of criticism, to the point that even opposing fans have written strongly-worded complaints to media outlets. First, a mother in Tennessee wrote to the Charlotte Observer to voice her displeasure with Newton.
Newton’s response?
Cam on angering Titans: "I'm a firm believer if you don't like it, keep me out (of the end zone)."
— Joe Person (@josephperson) November 15, 2015
And then there was “Sarah in Seattle” following the NFC Divisional Round playoff win by the Panthers.
As the Panthers’ season unfolded and win after win accumulated, the spotlight began to shine even more on Newton, and his name was thrust squarely into the MVP race even though he was not putting up more traditional high-end quarterback numbers.
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The brighter the spotlight, the wider his smile, and the notion of a quarterback playing loose and having fun did not sit well with a lot of observers, who took his actions as taunting, even though Newton never gesticulated in the direction of opponents and was always playing up to the crowd.
The spectre of racism has even reared its ugly head, as his critics have been met with swift rebuttals attempting to point out a double standard in the general public embracing similarly showy displays by other players.
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Reveling in the Panthers’ run to a 15-1 finish and two impressive wins in the playoffs en route to the Super Bowl, the groundswell of support and brickbats built up to a crescendo, but Newton remained unfazed as he prepared to lead the team in Super Bowl 50.
The result and the statistics will go down in history and reflect the following: that Newton had a subpar game as the Panthers struggled to establish any offensive rhythm in the face of a relentless Broncos pass rush; that Panthers mistakes across the board contributed to their ultimate downfall in losing a game they were favored in; and that Newton was responsible for two costly turnovers that resulted in both of the Broncos’ touchdowns and were the difference in the game.
And then there was the obligatory postgame press conference, conducted shortly after the game and with the celebration still ongoing on the field.
As to be expected, Newton’s walking out precipitated an avalanche of criticism from fans and observers alike. Walking out on a press conference at any level is a public relations disaster for any public figure, let alone a quarterback for a team in the Super Bowl.
Inevitably (and quickly), the derisive comments and accusations of being a sore loser, unsportsmanlike, lacking class, and childishness surfaced online.
However, is it worth considering what Newton was experiencing, with essentially the same question being asked repeatedly after he had given credit to the Broncos. All along, Broncos defensive back Chris Harris was within feet answering questions himself, all of which had to do with how the Broncos prepared to face Newton.
THIS is why Cam walked out (listen to what's being said in the background). pic.twitter.com/6LdLFwv8tj
— br1àn (@bmweezy13) February 8, 2016
Without necessarily giving the okay for him to walk out, the video clips depicting the general chaos of the situation and hearing opposing players talk down his ability and his team should go some way in explaining at least part of Newton’s mindset in the heat of the moment.
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Lost in all this controversy is the postgame handshake, which could end up as some sort of passing of the torch from Peyton Manning to Newton, as the 39-year old whom many assume will call time on his career after this season acknowledged that Newton was nothing but gracious and humble.
“He was very nice to me. And I really appreciated that.” -Peyton Manning talks convo with Cam Newton, post-#SB50https://t.co/j2h9sc7YTM
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 8, 2016
Also lost in this controversy is the simply remarkable performance by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, whose 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass deflection, and numerous forays into the backfield completely disrupted the Panthers’ offensive gameplan. Miller’s day was quite simply one of the best individual defensive efforts ever seen in a Super Bowl, and keyed the dominance of the Broncos’ defensive unit.
All things taken into consideration, the scene with Newton could and should very easily have been avoided. Blame for this, however, does not fall entirely on his shoulders.
It almost defies belief that a league with so many resources at its disposal, a league that provides a more controlled environment for postgame press conferences during the regular season and separates winning and losing teams for those media sessions, does not see fit to do the same for its biggest game of the season.
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This has not been unusual for previous Super Bowls, but with the fallout of Newton’s walkout bringing this issue into focus now, perhaps this is something the league and future Super Bowl organizing committees need to take into consideration.
Manning was given the benefit of the doubt for leaving the field without going to Drew Brees for a handshake at midfield after Super Bowl XLIX because he said that he did not want to take away from Brees’ and the New Orleans Saints‘ moment. Applying reverse logic, how much sense does it truly make to obligate players from the losing team to subject themselves to the media barrage so soon after losing on this particular stage and to do so within earshot of the victors?
The bottom line is that Newton walking out is not something to condone. His frustration and disappointment is absolutely understandable, but his position as the face of the Panthers and the face of the league to some degree by virtue of his MVP status is undeniable, and the optics of the moment leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
All that being said, an accurate critique of the moment cannot rely simply on personal experiences in high school or rec league games. There is no comparison there, and there was much more to this than just a sore loser taking his ball home, and in the heat of the moment after the biggest loss of his career, perhaps some empathy for Newton’s position without necessarily accepting or condoning his actions is appropriate after taking into account the circumstances.
As for Newton, he would be well-advised to use this moment as a learning experience rather than a defining moment.
