Cam Newton labelled 'sore loser' for prickly Super Bowl news conference
Panthers quarterback 'couldn't have been nicer,' said Peyton Manning, QB of winning Broncos
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton faced criticism from sports pundits on TV and Twitter on Sunday night for abruptly leaving a news conference following his team's 24-10 Super Bowl loss to the Denver Broncos.
The visibly dejected Newton, who led the Panthers to a 17-1 season and was named the NFL's regular-season MVP, gave only brief answers to reporters' questions before walking out of the news conference, saying, "I'm done."
"I don’t know what you want me to say, I’m sorry." - A dejected Cam Newton walks off the podium abruptly. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SB50?src=hash">#SB50</a> <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/xw4iLd1CQz">https://t.co/xw4iLd1CQz</a>
—@NFLVIDEO: Panthers QB Cam Newton talks about his struggles during the Super Bowl after Carolina loses to Denver: <a href="https://t.co/hhLfWtdK3t">https://t.co/hhLfWtdK3t</a>
—@APSome commentators and reporters called out Newton for his behaviour at the news conference
Oh Damn! <a href="https://twitter.com/CameronNewton">@CameronNewton</a> just got up and walked off the podium. Totally understand! But you still can't do that. You just can't.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManUP?src=hash">#ManUP</a>
—@stephenasmithEasy to have fun/pretend to be leader when team is cruising, but reax to losing shows true man & leader .. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamNewton?src=hash">#CamNewton</a> has LONG way to go
—@giantswfanIf you dab and howl like Cam Newton when you're 17-1, you can't walk away from postgame interview when you lose. A series lack of maturity.
—@ByRyanWoodSore loser Cam Newton ==> King of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBowlBabies?src=hash">#SuperBowlBabies</a>
—@michellemalkinOkay, okay, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamNewton?src=hash">#CamNewton</a>'s "young." But when we lost in Little League, our manager, Mr. Cooper, did not allow us to pout that way. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SB50?src=hash">#SB50</a>
—@larryelderAmong Newton's critics was actor Rob Lowe, whose sarcastic tweet drew a great deal of attention
Wow. What a press conference from Cam Newton. So gracious!So classy! So humble! What an example to kids! Just like Peyton. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dab?src=hash">#dab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBowl?src=hash">#SuperBowl</a>
—@RobLowePeople on Twitter, however, weren't about to let Lowe call Newton a bad "example to kids," without reminding him of his own history
Rob Lowe ripped Cam Newton's post-Super Bowl presser and it seriously backfired: <a href="https://t.co/dcJv3yV4Wd">https://t.co/dcJv3yV4Wd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SB50?src=hash">#SB50</a> <a href="https://t.co/4IlrR8anbg">pic.twitter.com/4IlrR8anbg</a>
—@thedailybeastSome of the criticism of Newton had a racist tone, including a tweet from former NFLer Bill Romanowski, who referred to Newton, 26, as "boy"
Maybe Bill Romanowski should put his phone down and never pick it back up: <a href="https://t.co/bfQr7CIJyA">https://t.co/bfQr7CIJyA</a> <a href="https://t.co/NMtxeM3GK8">pic.twitter.com/NMtxeM3GK8</a>
—@SBNationCalm down everyone! I meant he needs to grow up!
—@billromanowskiRomanowski deleted the tweet and later apologized
I apologize for that remark 'boy'. It was not intentional or even trying to disrespect others. Peace everyone.
—@billromanowskiWhile Newton's critics focused on his behaviour at the news conference, his defenders pointed to the sportsmanship he displayed to the winning Broncos quarterback, veteran Peyton Manning, immediately after the game at California's Levi's Stadium.
Cam Newton congratulates Peyton Manning on winning the Super Bowl title <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SB50?src=hash">#SB50</a>. <a href="https://t.co/7KWrDCSmQ2">pic.twitter.com/7KWrDCSmQ2</a>
—@ABC<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/camnewton?src=hash">#camnewton</a> congratulated <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeytonManning?src=hash">#PeytonManning</a> with a huge smile...but they will only show the press conference 💩🤐 <a href="https://t.co/yairDK1W3y">pic.twitter.com/yairDK1W3y</a>
—@workwthecoachManning himself, appearing Monday morning on Today, said Newton "couldn't have been nicer to me. He was extremely humble. He congratulated me, wished me the best."
“He was very nice to me. And I really appreciated that.” -Peyton Manning talks convo with Cam Newton, post-<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SB50?src=hash">#SB50</a><a href="https://t.co/j2h9sc7YTM">https://t.co/j2h9sc7YTM</a>
—@TODAYshowSome said Newton's dour demeanour was aimed strictly at the media
Cam's opponent was the Denver Broncos. He congratulated them.<br><br>The media's opponent was Cam Newton. He didn't play their game.<br><br>So?
—@carIisIeI'd like to see all these Twitter critics hatin' on Cam Newton lose the biggest game of their life and then have to answer stupid questions
—@RADeMitaNewton previously faced criticism from many in sports media for being too exuberant in victory
They're mad when he celebrates, mad when he's pissed. He's a professional athlete, folks, not a Supreme Court justice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/camnewton?src=hash">#camnewton</a>
—@RayCamsMany expressed sympathy for the man
Nope <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamNewton?src=hash">#CamNewton</a> shouldn't have walked off, but damn he just lost the biggest game of his career & was prob about 2start crying. I overstand
—@TamiRomanHe's a 26 yr old that just lost the Superbowl. Maybe we could let him be human for a couple hrs. He can be a role model tomorrow <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CamNewton?src=hash">#CamNewton</a>
—@MoBeeNYC