Cam Newton, the experienced NFL quarterback, recently stirred up a controversy in the sports world with his comments on some of his contemporaries.
His frank critique gave rise to discussions on the MVP conversation involving Christian McCaffrey, Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and Tua Tagovailoa.
Newton, a former Carolina Panthers player who had a successful run for over a decade, expressed his opinion that teammate and San Francisco 49ers running back, Christian McCaffrey, ought to be this year’s MVP.
He further suggested that quarterbacks such as Prescott, Purdy, Tagovailoa, and Goff perform more as “game managers” than as “difference-makers.”
“These are game managers, they’re not difference-makers,” Newton said on his 4th & 1 with Cam Newton podcast. “If we’re really going to call a spade a spade, there’s a difference between managers of the game and difference-makers of a game. That’s not to say they can’t win the MVP, but it just is what it is.”
This outlook drew attention as it questioned the conventional understanding of a quarterback role.
In the stormy milieu of judgments and assumptions, sports personality Emmanuel Acho was one of the major figures to publicly air his views on the subject matter.
He confessed that his take might tick off a few people, including himself. Although Acho agreed that Newton was justified in airing his perspective, he kept a safe distance from endorsing his comments.
“You, yes you. Watch your mouth when you talk about Cam Newton,” Acho said as he looked directly into the camera on FS1’s Speak. “Now, I do not agree with what Cam Newton said about Brock Purdy, about Dak Prescott, about Tua Tagovailoa. I believe they are catalysts in helping their team win. However, Cam Newton is definitely allowed to sound off on it if anybody is. Who is Cam Newton giving this opinion? Cam Newton is the only player in the history of football to win a Heisman, an NFL MVP, go to a Super Bowl. Cam Newton is one of one; that’s why he wore the No. 1 because he’s like that.
Emmanuel Acho: ‘Watch your mouth’ when you talk about Cam Newton https://t.co/OyGKRj5Sds pic.twitter.com/UBEi9Y0zFW
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 14, 2023
“So, if anybody can give their opinion on quarterback play, it’s Cam Newton, who is allowed to give his opinion on quarterback play, because when it comes to playing quarterback in football, he’s top-20 ever. I’m not talking the NFL; I’m talking football at every level. He won the Heisman; he was the best in college. Then, he went to the NFL and won MVP….and not only that, he took his team to the Super Bowl in a 15-1 season, when his best wide receiver was Ted Ginn (Jr.), whose career high is 787 yards in a season.”
He highlighted Newton’s unique achievements, touting them as being worthy of earning him a place in the conversation about MVP candidacy.
However, he carefully clarified that this did not equate to him endorsing Newton’s evaluation of the other quarterbacks.
“So, what are we talking about?” Acho continued. “Now, was Cam Newton right? I don’t think he was, but he’s giving his opinion on a subjective matter. It’s subjective, so it’s open to interpretation of anybody’s opinion, your own. But unless you are as credentialed as Cam Netwon, then you can’t say Cam Newton can’t speak on the matter. Do I think he was right? No. But it’s Cam Newton, so imma listen to him talk. I’m gonna give him space to talk. I’m gonna give him space to speak. I’m not gonna chastise him for what he has to say. So be mindful of how you speak when you speak about Cam Newton.
Pretty fitting that this discussion happened on Speak, eh?
While the sports world buzzes over Newton’s remarks, it’s crucial to acknowledge his role as a “game-changer”.
The 2015 NFL MVP’s influential career is testament to his dynamism, dedication, and dogged skills as a quarterback.
