NEWTON REALLY DROPPED THE BALL IN SUPER BOWL
While he’s having trouble with fumble, Broncos finding it’s hard to be humble
One thing is clear after Super Bowl 50: If you ever find yourself in a foxhole with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and somebody tosses in a live grenade, you’re in trouble — because Newton won’t be throwing himself on it to save you.
Newton has been vilified for failing to fall on a fumble late in Sunday’s game, even though the ball was right at his feet. His hesitancy — he told reporters he was afraid of getting hurt — allowed the Denver Broncos to recover and put the finishing touches on their 24-10 victory. By not selling out, Newton sold out the Panthers and their fans … After the game, Newton was nonresponsive with reporters before cutting short his media session. As a headline at Yahoo.com put it (with a nod to Newton’s selfassigned alter ego): ‘Cam Newton goes from Superman to Incredible Sulk.’
Some Broncos weren’t exactly gracious winners Sunday.
“They want to be famous. We want to be champions,” safety T.J. Ward said, referring to the Panthers’ preening. “They want to be rappers and backup dancers. We want to play football.” Newton may have had trouble with a fumble, but some Broncos had trouble being humble
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning plugged Budweiser in his post-game interview with CBS, even though he wasn’t paid to do so. It’s surprising that Manning didn’t ask the beer company for money for the plug; usually he has a good head for business.
Before Manning appeared on The Tonight Show on Wednesday, host Jimmy Fallon suggested there was some good news for viewers. Said Fallon: “Because of all the products he’ll be mentioning in his interview, we don’t have to run any commercials tonight.”
According to a new report, the billing rates at top law firms in the United States have reached $1,500 an hour. That’s steep, all right, but most players on the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster can afford it
According to the NFL, any prospect who has faced sexual assault, domestic violence or weapons charges will be banned from participating in the league’s annual player combine. “This just in,” comedy writer Alex Kaseberg noted, “the NFL has cancelled their player combine.
Reports out of Cleveland this week suggested troubled Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel showed up either drunk or hung over for a team meeting prior to the season finale, but the team tried to cover it up by saying he had a concussion. It’s official: Manziel’s career is on the rocks.
Researchers at Yale University suggest the erratic behaviour of King Henry VIII may have been the result of brain injuries he suffered during sporting events. Wait, did he play in Super Bowl VIII? Henry may have had concussions, but a couple of his wives suffered more serious head injuries.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended his sport to reporters last week by suggesting that “There’s risk in life. There’s risk in sitting on the couch.” ... “Wow,” noted blogger Janice Hough, “so must be a tough crowd around the potato chip bowl at Goodell’s house.”
If you think you’re out of shape, comedy writer Tim Hunter has a sure sign that you’re right: “You’ve got a contract with Nike not to wear their brand.”
This week’s wacky soccer story comes from Germany, where Borussia Dortmund fans had an interesting way of protesting the price of tickets to a game against Stuttgart. The fans held up banners, chanted and threw tennis balls onto the pitch. Basically, they made quite a racket.
The last word this week goes to Dr. Juergen Pichler Levine, a Broncos fan who, with a buddy, shelled out $14,000 for VIP seats to the Super Bowl. Because of travel issues (their private jet was stuck in a holding pattern), the men didn’t arrive at Levi’s Stadium until the first quarter was half over. Asked by the San Francisco Chronicle about their late arrival, Pichler Levine replied: “We could give a f ... We are rich.”