Former NFL MVP quarterback Cam Newton has addressed his involvement in a fight at a youth football camp in response to a viral video.
In his first public response, Newton took responsibility for his actions, acknowledging that he let his emotions get the best of him, and he stated that there is no excuse for his behavior.
In a new episode of his “4th and 1” podcast, Newton took responsibility for the incident.
“I apologize to anybody affected. That’s Steph, that’s TJ, that’s their organization, that’s C1N, — my organization — my players, my parents, my staff members,” Newton said, via Mark Puleo of The Athletic. ‘There’s no excuse, there’s really not. It could’ve been a melee, more violence could’ve stemmed from that, and it’s just not called for.”
Newton expressed a sense of disappointment in himself, admitting that he felt he let down the youth players who look up to him. He highlighted the irony of not being able to advise them to control their emotions when he, himself, failed to do so.
“I think about the kids that look up to me, and whether they verbalize their appreciation or just stare in amazement, I feel like I let them down,” Newton said. “Because I can’t sit up here and say, ‘Hey bro, you gotta be bigger than that’ and then all of a sudden I do that. That just goes to show you, you gotta always stay in control of your emotions.”
While the video suggested that Newton was primarily defending himself during the altercation, another youth organization accused him of being the instigator. Newton’s apology seems to support the notion that he was not simply acting as a peacemaker and takes responsibility for his role in the incident.
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The 34-year-old Newton has not played in the NFL since 2021 when he briefly returned with the Carolina Panthers.
