In his emerging media career, Cam Newton has consistently viewed events from a singular perspective: his own. This was evident in a recent appearance on The Travis Hunter Show, where he depicted himself as the savior of the Carolina Panthers franchise from the moment he was drafted in 2011. “I entered a locker room filled with losers,” Newton reflected. “The guys didn’t know how to win or prepare; they didn’t take the 2-14 season seriously. That mentality was pervasive.”
In the same breath, he touted his accomplishments, highlighting two NCAA championships and his experience before entering the NFL. “It was a culture shock,” he noted. “For many in the league, the games don’t hold significance; it’s just about the money. Not everyone possesses the ability to be impact players; many are simply mediocre and satisfied with being on the team.”
Unfortunately, many former teammates felt undervalued and overlooked by his comments. After Newton’s remarks at Radio Row, wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. responded on X, stating, “53 man locker room – 1 = 52 losers. Wow… breaking news to 89!” Defensive end Charles Johnson chimed in, emphasizing that he had his best season in 2011 and warning Newton about sharing untold stories. Captain Munnerlyn expressed to The Athletic that Newton’s comments were a “slap in the face,” suggesting that Newton craves relevance in the media landscape while sacrificing the truth about his teammates.
53 man lockeroom – 1 = 52 losers
Wow… breaking news to 89! 🤬 https://t.co/sLYEbSxH3i
— Steve Smith Sr. (@SteveSmithSr89) February 10, 2025
Longtime offensive lineman Jordan Gross defended the iconic players that predated Newton’s arrival, as well as head coach Ron Rivera. While Newton’s college achievements are undeniable, the Panthers were not a barren franchise when he joined. The 2-14 record from the previous season marked their worst performance, but Newton entered an offense featuring Pro Bowl talents like Steve Smith, DeAngelo Williams, and Greg Olsen, who had participated in the conference championship just months earlier. Additionally, foundational pieces of the defense, including Johnson and Thomas Davis, were already in place.
Interestingly, despite stating he wouldn’t trade his MVP trophy for a Super Bowl ring, Newton’s narrative ignores that the Panthers only managed a 6-10 record in his first season and a 7-9 record the following year. By 2013, it was Rivera and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott’s efforts, supported by key draft picks like Luke Kuechly and Star Lotulelei, that transformed the defense into an elite unit. The reality is that accumulating talent only occurred as the team continued to struggle with Newton at the helm.
Newton has previously complained about feeling abandoned by the franchise, citing instances like being excluded from a trip overseas and being denied the opportunity to host an event for Super Bowl team members. Hearing him label the team as losers raises questions about his perspective.
