Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton said he鈥檚 disappointed in himself for losing control of his emotions over the weekend at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta, resulting in a brief fight involving several men from competing teams.
A 22-second video surfaced on Sunday showing the 34-year-old Newton with at least three other men outside of a school at the tournament. Newton did not throw any punches, and appeared to try to fend off some attackers.
The incident was quickly broken up by a policeman and security.
鈥淚鈥檓 disappointed in myself for letting it escalate to what it did and that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 apologetic to,鈥 . 鈥淭he truth of the matter is this: Me, being in my position, I should鈥檝e never put myself in that position. That鈥檚 just the truth. That could鈥檝e got ugly, for real.鈥
The 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and longtime Carolina Panthers signal caller also apologized to the kids who look up to him.
鈥淚 feel like I let them down," Newton said. "Because I can鈥檛 sit up here and say, 鈥楬ey bro, you have to be bigger than that,鈥 and then all of a sudden I do that. That just shows that you have to always stay in control of your emotions.鈥
Newton, who is from Atlanta, heads up the , which was founded in 2021 and focuses on developing young athletes鈥 skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7-on-7 tournaments and other events.
The former Heisman Trophy winner often attends the nationwide tournaments to support his players in various age divisions, and even hosts some events under the C1N brand.
Newton said over the weekend trash talk during a game between him and former members of his C1N organization carried over off the football field leading to the altercation.
鈥淭here was a lot of talking on both sides 鈥 on all sides, let鈥檚 just put it like that,鈥 Newton said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to point the finger and say this person said that or that person said that. Am I saying this is the first time it happened or the last time it happened? It鈥檚 something that starts with words and should鈥檝e ended with words.鈥
Newton said he's glad the incident didn't take a turn for the worse.
鈥淭here's no excuse really,鈥 Newton said. 鈥淚t could have been a melee. More violence could have stemmed from that. It's just not called for.鈥
Newton said he also regrets the incident because be believes it perpetuates a stereotype that he doesn't like.
鈥淚t's echoing something that has been permeating for years 鈥 Black people,鈥 Newton said. 鈥淲hy do I got to be at a Black event, you know what I'm saying? And I could easily play the victim, and I'm not going to do that. I'm going to hold myself to that same standard.鈥
Newton, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2021, said on the podcast that he's used to handling criticism.
He said sometimes that comes in the form of his failure to jump on a loose ball in the Panthers' Super Bowl 50 loss to the Denver Broncos in 2016, losing his job to Mac Jones in New England or because of his perceived negative comments about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
鈥淚'm used to playing in front of 100,000 people and millions watching, and I let one person dictate how I feel? No, I can't do that. But I did that day," Newton said.
Newton said he hopes the incident serves as a teaching moment for young athletes and those who look up to him.
鈥淭his is what I really want the narrative to be,鈥 Newton said. 鈥淭o every high school player, to every single person I鈥檝e influenced and to every single athlete, use my situation as a way to understand that in one moment and one decision, your life can change just like that. I let my emotions get the best of me."
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