Cam Newton has now addressed the criticism of his recent comments about the first Carolina Panthers locker room he walked into. And, as he often does, the former Most Valuable Player didn’t back down.
The franchise’s all-time leading passer drew the ire of some former teammates when referring to the Panthers, specifically the team he initially joined as the No. 1 overall pick back in 2011, as a “locker room of losers.”
He dropped the not-so-flattering label on last week’s episode of the The Travis Hunter Show from Super Bowl LIX’s “Radio Row.” If you haven’t already, take a listen:
Those words got ex-teammate and former wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. going on Twitter/X this past Monday . . .
53 man lockeroom – 1 = 52 losers
Wow… breaking news to 89!
https://t.co/sLYEbSxH3i
— Steve Smith Sr. (@SteveSmithSr89) February 10, 2025
I’ve watched & listened from a far as U @CameronNewton
talk about @Panthers! None of us are perfect. Yes We were 2-14 before you blessed us w ur presence. The way you have talked about @panthers lately I’m very disappointed. I wish u nothing but the very best. I’m done !!!— Steve Smith Sr. (@SteveSmithSr89) February 10, 2025
They got the attention of former defensive end Charles Johnson and former offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz as well, both of whom were also a part of the 2-14 Panthers from 2010 . . .
A professional calling his teammates losers will never sit well with me. Don’t care what no one says. We all battle together. Not just one person. It’s never one person who will win a game. That’s ego talking! Team game, respect the guys. Just my opinion just like his
JAO
— charles johnson (@randywattson) February 11, 2025
Cam came into a locker room with a HoF WR, 2 OL and 2 RBs who either made a Pro Bowl and/or All Pro, two LBs who were All Pros in their careers, plus other high level contributors like Charles Johnson, Chris Gamble, Travelle and more … wasn’t a bum locker room.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) February 11, 2025
Here’s what Newton had to say about his comments and the pushback they received on Thursday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton:
In their first year with Newton, the Panthers improved to 6-10 and followed that with a 7-9 mark in the next campaign. They’d then capture three straight NFC South titles from 2013 to 2015, a run that ended with the second-ever Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.