Cam Newton, former NFL quarterback and league MVP, recently shared his insights on the potential pressures Travis Hunter might face if drafted as the number one pick in the NFL Draft. Speaking on his podcast, "4th and 1 with Cam Newton," he reflected on his own experience being picked first by the Carolina Panthers in 2011. Newton's candid comments stirred reactions, particularly from former teammate Steve Smith, as Newton described the Panthers' locker room at the time as having a "losers' mentality."
Newton clarified that his remarks were not intended to target individual players but rather to address the overall performance and culture of the team he joined. The Panthers had finished the 2010 season with a 2-14 record, a reflection of what Newton termed a collective mindset that needed changing. He stated, "I'm not specifically talking about those guys. I'm talking about the culture that was there prior to me coming into the locker room — and it was a losers' mentality."
Newton's comments drew attention when Smith, who had been part of that Panthers team, took exception. Reacting to Newton's characterization, Smith tweeted, "53 man locker room — 1 = 52 losers. Wow… breaking news to 89," displaying his discontent with Newton's portrayal.
Despite this, Newton maintained his perspective, emphasizing that his remarks were meant to highlight the reality of being drafted by a struggling team. He explained to Hunter that being a top draft pick invariably means joining a team in need of transformation. "No. I never said that. What I said was if you're getting drafted No. 1, you're going to a bad football team. That's facts," Newton asserted.
Reflecting on his early years with the Panthers, Newton admitted that learning to win in the NFL required overcoming significant obstacles. The team posted a 6-10 record in his first season and improved slightly to 7-9 in the following year. However, by 2015, under Newton's leadership, the Panthers soared to a 15-1 record and reached the Super Bowl, where he also earned the NFL MVP title.
Newton acknowledged that initially, he had "no way of impacting the game the way a quarterback does" due to the team's existing culture. Yet, through perseverance and developing a winning mentality, he was able to lead the team to success.
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