The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Newton: Panthers owner innocent until proven guilty
CHARLOTTE, N.C. » Quarterback Cam Newton said Monday embattled Panthers owner Jerry Richardson should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Richardson is under investigation by the NFL for sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace and announced Sunday that he’s selling the team just hours after a Sports Illustrated report detailed his alleged misconduct.
The NFL has not commented on the ongoing investigation.
Newton said Richardson met with him and other team captains at Bank of America Stadium Sunday night — hours after Carolina’s 3124 win over the Green Bay Packers — to inform them he would be putting the team up for sale after the season.
The QB says while he disagrees with any type of sexual misconduct, he has immense respect for Richardson based on their 7 ½-year relationship.
“Everything that I heard were allegations and nothing was actually proven,” Newton said. “It’s another person’s words against another person’s words. Needless to say I still think extremely highly of Mr. Richardson. I don’t know none of the sources names that have come out, so I am reaching to find it. But I take sexual assault extremely seriously — and I don’t want to offend anyone — but having a lot of allegations thrown at a person, I don’t think that is really fair.”
The Sports Illustrated story cited unnamed sources who said Richardson made sexually suggestive comments to women and on at least one occasion directed a racial slur at an AfricanAmerican Panthers scout. The report states that the settlements came with nondisclosure requirements to at least four former employees forbidding the parties from discussing the details.
“Were there things done? Yeah, there were some things done,” Newton said. “But needless to say just speaking with the captains and forming our own opinion — we are all entitled to our own opinion — and until things are actually become facts, that is when you can start making clear judgments.”