Newton defends actions after Super Bowl
Cam Newton isn’t apologizing for acting like a “sore loser” after the Super Bowl.
The league’s MVP has been widely criticized for walking out of a three-minute press conference after a 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday in which he answered questions with mostly one- and two-word responses while sulking in his chair wearing a black Carolina Panthers hoodie over his head.
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser,” Newton said Tuesday as players cleaned out their lockers at the team’s downtown stadium.
Newton said he believes the situation is being overblown by the media, and added he doesn’t plan to change how he reacts to losing just to appease his critics.
“If I offended anybody that’s cool, but I know who I am and I’m not about to con- form nor bend for anybody’s expectations because yours or anybody’s expectations would never exceed mine,” Newton said.
The quarterback went on to say, “Who are you to say that your way is right? I have all of these people who are condemning and saying this, that and the third, but what makes your way right?”
At one point during Newton’s nearly seven-minute interview, his teammates walked behind the media gathered three-deep around his locker and starting saying, “We love you, Cam,” and even sang him a song lightning the mood.
Newton said his emotions were raw after the game and he simply didn’t want to talk to the media.
“When you invest so much time and sacrifice so much and things don’t go as planned, I think emotions take over,” Newton said. “I think that is what happens.”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said while he prefers his fifth-year quarterback would have handled the situation a little better, he understands where he is coming from and what he felt at the time. “That’s who he is. He hates to lose, that’s the bottom line.” Rivera said.
Broncos parade through Denver
Tens of thousands of fans cheered the Denver Broncos as the Super Bowl champions paraded through downtown Denver, putting aside some big questions about the future of the team for now.
Fans packed deep along the route while others watched from balconies and rooftops as the players rode by on a series of fire trucks. The first was labeled No. 18,
Peyton Manning’s number. Manning himself was on board, along with Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and
Annabel Bowlen, the wife of ailing Broncos owner Pat
Bowlen, who held the Lombardi Trophy. Backup quarterback
Brock Osweiler signed footballs and threw them into the crowd as he rode by on another truck.
Manning avoided saying anything about whether he will return to play for another season at the rally after the parade. And it still remains to be seen whether Denver can keep its top ranked defense together.
The parade followed an outdoor concert by a trio of Colorado bands including Big Head Todd and The Monsters near city hall and the state Capitol. The sea of fans went crazy on the sunny morning as the music started. The smell of marijuana hung over the park, even though smoking pot in public is illegal in Colorado.
People gathered for hours before the concert and parade. Classes were in session Tuesday, but school age kids mingled in the crowd. Denver schools offered students excused absences if their parents let officials know.
Browns: No lying about Manziel
The Browns issued a statement Tuesday saying
Johnny Manziel was diagnosed with a concussion late in the season by an independent neurologist, countering an NFL Network report they lied about the injury to cover up the troubled quarterback showing up intoxicated for practice.
The league’s in-house network reported citing an unnamed Browns player that the team “lied” to try and protect Manziel, who is being investigated by Dallas police on allegations of domestic violence.
On Jan. 3, former coach Mike Pettine said, “No. No. No, that is not the case,” when asked if Manziel was sent home for being inebriated.