NFL issues statement on Cam Newton’s comments to female reporter

Cam Newton doesn’t always handle press conferences well, and after his latest misstep the NFL has spoken out.

Cam Newton gets a lot of attention for what he wears in postgame press conference. But he also comes off as pouty and defensive a fair amount of the time (see Super Bowl 50).

On Wednesday, during his typical weekly podium session with the media, Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer asked Newton a somewhat detailed question that eventually focused on Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess embracing the physicality of his routes. Apparently the word “routes” was some sort of trigger word for sarcasm from Newton, who got an odd grin on his face and then responded in an incredibly disrespectful manner.

A flurry of statements have come after Newton’s comments, from Rodrigue herself, Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond and lastly from the NFL.

If you missed the clip of Newton’s response to Rodrigue, here it is.

Rodrigue had an immediately salty response on Twitter, and rightfully so.

Somehow it doesn’t surprise me Newton didn’t take a female reporter very seriously, and I’m guessing it’s not the first time he has at least come off with a dismissive attitude toward a female reporter’s question. I’m also not shocked he didn’t apologize to Rodrigue when he was apparently given an immediate opportunity to do so personally, and without a canned statement from a team spokesman.

Based on his performance a lot of the time, maybe Newton should study route concepts and how receivers run them a little better. Rodrigue’s question didn’t seem to be particularly “inside football” in terms of terminology or what routes are called on certain plays, but Newton still chose to act like he did as if she had no right to ask what she did.

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Sometimes when someone shows their true colors you have to believe them, and Newton has done it again in a press conference setting.