Coaches accuse Cam Newton of initiating fight brawl
Coach Steve: Brawl involving Cam Newton is the latest example of adults ruining youth sports,
The coaches who were in a fight with Cam Newton at a youth 7v7 football tournament in Atlanta this weekend say the former NFL quarterback started the incident.
The scuffle went viral on social media on Sunday. In videos that showed multiple angles, the former NFL quarterback, wearing one of his signature hats, got into a shoving match with two other people. The fight started under a tent and went into the surrounding grass area against a fence.
A statement from TopShelf Performance shared with USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday said that TJ and Steph Brown, the coaches involved in the fight, previously worked for Newton. They were coaches for the Heisman Trophy winner’s C1N organization in what was at first a “mutually beneficial relationship.”
A game on Saturday when TopShelf beat C1N in the tournament is when tensions spilled over. The statement said
Newton approached TJ in the parking lot on Sunday and boasted about his money. Once everyone got to the field for the next day of competition, Newton continued to taunt TopShelf, saying things like “I know that play,” “I taught you everything you know,” “I made y’all” and “I’m your daddy.”
The statement said Steph left the field to address the taunting with Newton. The 2011 NFL No. 1 overall draft pick reportedly grabbed the coach “by his jacket trying to choke him.” TJ punched Newton “and the situation as a whole escalated.”
TopShelf said that the Browns were the only ones involved on their end of the fight and that one of Newton’s players fought on his side, punching TJ in the nose. In video of the fight, a youth player wearing a white shirt can be seen jumping in and throwing a punch while the others scuffle against a fence and people wearing “Staff” T-shirts try to break up the fight.
The statement said the relationship between Newton and the Browns started to crack in the 2021-22 season, especially after the team TJ coached beat the one Newton coached.
“The footage that was captured would be deleted and Cam struggled to accept defeat,” the statement said.
The Browns left C1N and started their own TopShelf 7v7 team in 2022. TopShelf said its relationship with the former Carolina Panthers star remained cordial, with both sides engaging in friendly taunting and appreciation for each other’s talent.
“The entire incident is profoundly disheartening,” the statement said of the fight. “We aspire to serve as exemplars both on and off the field, dedicated to cultivating a community that prioritizes the safety of our athletes and their families. Our objective is to nurture individuals of strong moral character. We acknowledge our responsibility for the consequences of our actions and for allowing the provocation to lead us to behave in a manner inconsistent with our usual character.”
TopShelf Performance released another statement on Instagram on Monday night, apologizing for “getting beyond our Character.”
“We are deeply concerned about the recent incident involving Cam Newton, and our thoughts are with all parties affected. Violence has no place in our community, and we strongly condemn any form of aggression . ... Our values are centered around respect and collaboration, and making sure every kid & player thrives to be better that’s around us. We take any deviation from these principles seriously.
“We are actively addressing this matter internally and working towards a resolution that aligns with our commitment to creating a positive space for our team and clients. We appreciate your understanding and want to reassure our community that something like this will NEVER happen again. We remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity and will continue to help and grow with the players in the community.”
Neither Newton nor C1N has publicly addressed the fight.