Former NFL players are expressing their displeasure over what they perceive as disrespect towards Cam Newton, who was involved in a brawl at a 7-on-7 football game in Atlanta on Sunday.
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson expressed their outrage during the latest episode of their “Nightcap” podcast.
“It’s not cute to disrespect Cam like that,” Sharpe exclaimed. “It’s embarrassing that people would show such disrespect to someone who’s giving back.”
Sharpe further emphasized Newton’s patience, stating, “Cam’s way better than me. I wouldn’t tolerate disrespect from my own kids, let alone someone else’s.”
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Videos posted on social media captured Newton, a former MVP quarterback with 11 NFL seasons under his belt, seemingly outnumbered in the altercation at an event organized by We Ball Sports.
According to reports, Newton was approached by individuals affiliated with TopShelf Performance, a training facility in Atlanta, where the fight broke out near a We Ball Sports tent.
“Peyton and Eli [Manning] have been having a camp for 20-something years,” Sharpe added. “You ain’t never seen no kids being disrespectful to Peyton and Eli.”
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also weighed in on the incident, condemning the disrespect shown towards Newton and calling for better community behavior.
“In all seriousness, I HATE seeing this,” Griffin expressed. “How can we rise and change the narrative when we’re attacking each other like this?”
The footage showed Newton being targeted by multiple individuals, with Griffin noting that Newton “took a sucker punch to the face.”
Newton and all parties involved in the altercation were subsequently removed from the tournament, according to Nehemiah Mitchell, the co-founder of We Ball Sports. TopShelf Performance trainers/coaches Stephon and TJ Brown issued a statement expressing their concern over the incident and condemning violence.
Newton, who has yet to publicly address the incident, has had an illustrious NFL career, earning three Pro Bowl selections and an NFL MVP award in 2015.
Law enforcement involvement in the incident remains unclear.
