Cam Newton's latest self-absorbed press conference reminded me of the three MVP-winning quarterbacks with whom I worked during my NFL management career — and how different (and far more classy) they were compared to the Panthers quarterback.
And I'm not just talking about the atrocious pink suit and green hat Newton wore at the podium Sunday. (Was that an early Halloween gift to the world?)
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The players I'm talking about — Fran Tarkenton and Randall Cunningham in Minnesota, Steve McNair in Tennessee — never pouted in public as Newton has often done when he feels wronged by things such as officials' non-calls. Those MVPs also never stiffed the media as Newton did in his press conference after last season’s Super Bowl loss.
Tarkenton, Cunningham and McNair were likable, engaging personalities who always conveyed a positive outlook. In only one case (McNair's DUI incident in the 2003 offseason) was there a public embarrassment, which McNair quickly overcame thanks in part to his popularity.
Newton can be pleasant and engaging with his great smile, but only when everything is going his way. Far too often we see his sullen side. He has had questions repeatedly raised about his character going back to his arrest in college at Florida for stealing a laptop and getting kicked out of the football program. He wound up at Auburn but had to deal with allegations that his father attempted a pay-to-play scheme in order for schools to obtain his son.
Newton has had success — he led Auburn to the 2010 national championship, became the top pick in the NFL draft, has made the Pro Bowl three times and won last year’s NFL MVP award — but controversy always seems to surround him, in part due to his seeking the spotlight.
Newton's excessive celebrations clearly have irritated opponents. His behavior is part of the reason opponents enjoy the opportunities to put big hits on him, as Von Miller and his Broncos teammates did in the Super Bowl. Newton took seven sacks that night and fumbled twice. Then, in this year's season-opening loss in Denver, Newton absorbed several illegal hits to the head, with only one resulting in a roughing penalty.
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It was the start of what has been a difficult season for Newton and the defending NFC champion Panthers. The Vikings sacked him eight times and forced three interceptions in a Week 3 “upset.” Then Newton suffered a concussion while running for a two-point conversion against the Falcons and missed the following game, a loss to the Bucs. He returned and played well in a shootout loss to the Saints, which dropped the Panthers to 1-5.
Then came Sunday's win over Arizona, a victory led by Carolina's defense (eight sacks) and running back Jonathan Stewart (95 yards rushing, two TDs). Along with a low hit to Newton’s knees, perhaps not being the star of the game set off the quarterback's post-game rant.
On a day when the team leader should be praising his teammates for stopping the bleeding of the Panthers' season, Newton instead went off on the officials and said he wanted to speak with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
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Really, Cam? Shouldn’t that call be made by your coach Ron Rivera, your general manager Dave Gettleman or your team owner Jerry Richardson?
Not in Cam's world, where his voice is the only voice that really matters.
During the Panthers’ Super Bowl run last year, we heard how Newton's leadership skills had grown stronger compared to his early NFL years, when he was criticized by veteran teammates like Steve Smith for pouting during losses. There were reports of Newton’s inspirational halftime speech during the NFC title game, which motivated his team to not let up as they dominated the Cardinals.
But great leaders don't do what Newton did after the Super Bowl, and they don't put the focus on themselves by whining about officiating after an important win. A great leader would have sent a positive message: “The Panthers have made it to the playoffs with strong season-ending runs before, like in 2014 when they won the NFC South with a 7-8-1 record.”
Tarkenton, Cunningham and McNair took plenty of hard, borderline hits in and out of the pocket — they were quarterbacks capable of running just like Newton. They weren't as big as the 6-5, 245-pound Panther, who also can punish smaller players who try to tackle him. But those three MVP quarterbacks never complained about getting hit. They knew it was part of the game.
The same goes for other MVP quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre and Joe Montana. Current greats like Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck take plenty of hard hits and don't complain about conspiracies among officials.
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The problem for Newton is that virtually everything he does points to him being self-absorbed and narcissistic, and his continued petulance and egotistical nature has to irritate some of his teammates.
Back to that pink suit and green hat: It screams, "Look at me! Look at me!" Then there's the name he and his girlfriend gave their son: "Chosen." As in, "I’m special, so my son is the chosen one."
Here's hoping that Newton someday sees the light and becomes a consistently mature leader. Hopefully somebody will get in his ear and convince him to focus on the team rather than himself. If he's got a gripe about getting hit, he'll quietly convey it to the league through his team execs and coaches.
Only then can Newton be respected as a true, mature pro in the eyes of his NFL peers and the court of public opinion. That will help his marketability, which obviously is very important to him.
And then, perhaps, he'll even get a few more calls in his favor.
Jeff Diamond is the former president of the Titans and the former vice president/general manager of the Vikings. He was selected NFL Executive of the Year in 1998. Diamond is currently a business and sports consultant who also does broadcast and online media work. He is the former chairman and CEO of The Ingram Group. Follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeffdiamondNFL.
