Cam Newton Defensive In Explaining Why He Didn’t Jump On Super Bowl Fumble

Cam Newton’s postgame news conference just moments after Super Bowl 50 ended received all the attention, which actually overshadowed his other supposed big-game gaffe.

The Carolina Panthers quarterback attempted Tuesday to fend off the criticism he received for his tight-lipped, abbreviated press conference. But Newton also tried to defend his decision not to jump on a fourth-quarter fumble. He offered little explanation after the game before addressing the matter Tuesday when meeting with reporters back in Charlotte.

Newton actually started his remarks by saying he didn’t want to hurt himself by diving into the middle of the pile (see the video below), pointing out he has seen plenty of quarterbacks shy away from contact after throwing an interception. He then tackled the question head-on.

“OK, you say my effort. I didn’t dive down. I fumbled. That’s fine,” Newton told reporters, per the Charlotte Observer. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t lose that game because of that fumble. I can tell you that. You can condemn and say, ‘He gave up, this that and the third,’ but hey, as long as my teammates know, as long as my coaches know, as long as anybody that’s following my team knows.”

As for those who continue to criticize him for the perceived lack of effort, Newton doesn’t really care, by the sounds of it.

“I mean it’s easy for a person to nit-pick and say, ‘Cam this, he gave up,’ ” Newton said. “… That’s cool. That’s fine. I’m a grown man. I can understand that. But to say some things along the lines of that, and to say it in my face, that’s extremely different.”

At one point in Newton’s answer, his teammates could be heard shouting their support for the quarterback from off camera. You can watch Newton’s media availability by clicking here.

Thumbnail photo via Ed Szczepanski/USA TODAY Sports Images