Archie Manning defends Panthers’ Newton
Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning defended Cam Newton’s abrupt exit from his news conference after Super Bowl 50, saying it was similar to when Peyton Manning was criticized for heading directly to the locker room following Super Bowl XLIV.
“It’s really hard, really, really hard,” Archie Manning told reporters in Mississippi on Wednesday. “I like Cam. I’m not going to blast Cam. As a parent, you say, ‘I wish he’d have handled it a little different.’ But it hurts.”
After the Colts lost to New Orleans in the Super Bowl following the 2009 season, Peyton Manning headed off the field without shaking hands with Saints players. Archie Manning said his son texted Saints coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees from the locker room in Miami.
“He did catch flak about it,” the elder Manning recalled. “I don’t think until that game I ever had enough sympathy for the losing team in a Super Bowl. You’re really probably the second-best team out of 32 that year, but you come away from that game and feel like you’re 32nd instead of second.
“I can remember that. I remember how hurt (Peyton) was.”
Newton shook hands and spoke with Peyton on the field at Levi’s Stadium after the Broncos’ 24-10 victory Sunday. But Newton stayed at his postgame news conference less than three minutes, answering most questions with three-word responses before bolting.
“It’s a hard time, winning the Super Bowl or losing the Super Bowl,” Archie Manning said. “Cam, he’ll learn from it.”
Meanwhile, in New York, Peyton Manning had a little fun with little brother Eli’s sad face at the Super Bowl during an appearance on NBC’s “Tonight Show.”
Peyton said he understood why Eli wasn’t elated like other relatives in the luxury suite at Levi’s Stadium who were photographed jumping and celebrating after Denver’s late touchdown sealed the Broncos’ 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Peyton said Eli had his game face on.
“Eli and I have always supported each other. I think Eli was analyzing the game and kind of into the game like I would be as if he were playing it. And so he was just as happy,” Peyton told host Jimmy Fallon during the show that aired Wednesday night.
Then, he and Fallon pivoted to a bit where they spoke to a lifesize cutout of Eli, the New York Giants quarterback who has two Super Bowl rings.
“It’s funny, when I saw that clip, Jimmy, I’ve seen that look before. I’ve recognized it. At other big moments in my life, he kind of had that similar expression,” Peyton said.
DEVELOPMENT
Raiders stay in Oakland: Four weeks after being stymied in their effort to move to Los Angeles, the Raiders agreed to a one-year extension lease extension Thursday to remain at the Oakland Coliseum.
Raiders owner Mark Davis had been mulling multiple options to move his team since being turned down by the NFL’s other owners to relocate the team to Southern California.
The deal still needs approval by the Oakland City Council and Alameda County board of supervisors.
The St. Louis Rams were approved to move to Los Angeles in January, and the San Diego Chargers have an option to join them.