(Editor's Note: This was originally written last week but was re-edited for clarity and will act as an introduction to a two-part series discussing the media's coverage of news stories involving particular players. Part 1 will focus mostly on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton's press conference and the media's reaction to it)
It’s been nearly two weeks since Super Bowl 50 was played and most of the conversation about that game has been about a press conference, and not the game, itself. It was a post-game press conference involving Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers quarterback, with media members after losing to the Denver Broncos on Sunday night in the NFL’s championship game. In the case of the winning team, it’s a pleasant experience for all, the players/coaches are happy and the reporters are in a comfortable environment to get quotes from the key participants to make their stories. With the losing team, the situation is more difficult during regular season contests and made worse in the playoffs.
Newton is an interesting study in personality. On the field, he loves to celebrate himself and with his teammates after every good play. Newton will raise both of his hands up and point them straight ahead to imitate the NFL referee’s signal for a first down. He does each time he runs for a first down. This can be viewed as taunting by some and wholesome fun by some. It depends on the person. When he scores a rushing touchdown, Newton does various fast-paced, highly-choreographed dance celebrations. The most famous one called “The Dab” became popular this season as Carolina was the highest scoring offense in the NFL.
The celebrations and Newton’s constant grinning and smiling has won over some football fans and lost some others. He is very vocal and lively in front of the cameras when the team is winning. This is the Newton that most football fans saw this year as the Carolina Panthers went 15-1 in the regular season and 2-0 in the NFC Playoffs.
Sunday saw a different version of Cam Newton. Newton was much more serious as the game started. For much of Sunday, Newton was visibly frustrated, not with his teammates, but the Broncos spectacular defense. He was sad for most of the game, sad and disappointed. By the end, he was physically exhausted due to the constant hitting from Denver defenders.
When the game ended, with the Broncos beating the Panthers 24-10, television cameras focused on winning Denver quarterback Peyton Manning. In the immediate aftermath of the Broncos celebration, hundreds of camera people and TV/radio reporters sprinted over to Manning. In the background, a Carolina Panthers player in full uniform, ran over smiling and congratulated Manning. That player was Cam Newton. This should not be surprising or intend to treat Newton as some sort of hero. This is just a very nice interaction between a player from a losing team and a player from a winning team.
However, Newton was much different when talking to reporters. He appeared sad, annoyed, and disinterested. He answered some questions with short 2-3 word sentences and head movements of approval and disapproval. Through various videos on YouTube, it is hard to determine what is being said. At times, you can hear a reporter asking a question to Newton and see his lips not moving but hear another person’s voice.
Below is a recap provided by the Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer.
Q: What’s your message to Panthers fans?
A: “We’ll be back.”
Q: Ron (Rivera) said Denver two years ago had a tough time and they bounced back. Did you take that to heart?
A: “No.”
Q: Can you put a finger on why Carolina didn’t play the way it normally plays?
A: “Got outplayed.”
Q: Is there a reason why?
A: “Got outplayed, bro.”
Q: Was it pretty much what you had seen on film from Denver? Anything different they put in for this game?
A: “Nothing different.”
Q: Do we sometimes forget that defenses can still take apart the offenses in this game?
A: “No.”
Q: What did Ron Rivera say after the game?
A: “He told us a lot of things.”
Q: Anything in particular that was memorable?
A: “Nope.”
Q: Obviously you’re disappointed. On the biggest stage it’s difficult, I know.
A: nods head, doesn’t speak
Q: Did you see anything that you didn’t expect tonight?
A: “They just played better than us. I don’t know what you want me to say. They made more plays than us, and that’s what it comes down to. We had our opportunities. It wasn’t nothing special that they did. We dropped balls, we turned the ball over, gave up sacks, threw errant passes. That’s it. They scored more points than us.”
Q: Can you put into words the disappointment you feel right now?
A: “We lost.”
Q: On that fumble, were you trying to extend the play and that’s why you didn’t hit the deck for it?
A: “I don’t know.”
Q: Did Denver change anything defensively to take away your running lanes?
A: “No.”
Q: I know you’re disappointed not just for yourself, but for your teammates. You guys talked about being a band of brothers coming in. It’s got to be real tough.(Note: In the background of this question, you can hear Denver defensive back Chris Harris nearby talking loudly about the Broncos’ game plan to stop Newton).
A: (Newton shakes head) “I’m done, man.” (Newton walks off).
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Newton answers all of the questions asked but his responses were all very short except for the one regarding any perceived differences in Denver's defense on the field compared to film. The quality of the rest were a mixed bag of good and bad. He did not criticize his coaches and their decisions. He repeatedly said his team “got outplayed”. Newton’s responses also varied in succinct analysis and snarky arrogance and irritation. He did not help himself by refusing to reveal what head coach Ron Rivera told him and his teammates in the locker room. You can guess that it was a pep rally type speech applauding his team's effort and performance throughout the season.
Newton seemed to be distracted and not really paying attention as the questions increased. It appears he gets frustrated with something he hears and then immediately leaves. What he heard was a Denver Broncos defensive player being interviewed nearby. You can hear someone say “...game plan, load the box, force y'all to throw the ball, can you throw the football...and that was, that was the game plan". Newton said "I'm done" and immediately left.
Below is a YouTube video from Mike Lacefield with the title, “Cam Newton’s interview after Super Bowl 50 loss”
First of all, the Broncos are not at fault. Their defense should brag about shutting down Newton and Carolina’s offense. The Broncos had to hear from the media all week about the Panthers top ranked offense, and not their top ranked defense.
The NFL should be partly blamed for the uncomfortable environment. Why were there with players from both teams being interviewed within inches shouting distance of each other? If you need to interview players from the losing team in a large room to accommodate the extra media, why not have the losers come in first and then the winners?
Newton’s early exit from his press conference created a stir among football fans and media reporters. There were differing viewpoints. Some people saying it's unfair for Newton to have to answer these questions after losing the biggest game of his life. Some say it's fair for Newton to stand up and talk because he talks after every win. Why should a loss be different?
Newton received criticism from all types of media, including former players. However, there was a major difference in the reactions and credibility of ex-athletes turned media broadcasters and media reporters/broadcasters who have not competed at that championship level, lost/failed, and was forced to explain their bad performance.
Cris Carter, a black man, former NFL wide receiver, and now studio analyst for ESPN, had an interesting take that Newton should not have said “I’m done, man” to reporters and then leave but just leave instead of making a bad statement.. Carter explained, “I understand his emotion, but I much rather he get up than say something that might hurt the shine he has on his career, the shine that he has on his organization, and he’s truly one of the bright lights in the National Football League”.
The last part of that quote is eye-opening because of the publicity and marketing value of Newton and the Panthers. A short press conference after a bad playoff loss is not as bad as when Newton was in college. In 2008, at the University of Florida, he was arrested for stealing a fellow student’s laptop computer and allegedly threw it out a bedroom window. The charges were later dropped and he eventually transferred to Auburn University. The college troubles were a lot more serious than a sad and upset interview following a championship game loss.
It should be noted that three former star NBA players turned broadcasters, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kevin McHale did not support Newton's interview behavior,.as well. Barkley and O’Neal are two black guys and regular NBA studio commentators for Turner Sports. McHale, a white guy, ex-broadcaster, and former head coach was making a guest appearance on "Inside The NBA" with Barkley and O’Neal. Barkley went to college at Auburn, like Newton. O'Neal admitted that was scolded by his parents after not talking to reporters after losing the 1995 NBA Finals. McHale said he would have to answers questions from reporters when he was the head coach of the Houston Rockets. To paraphrase, McHale stated he would talk to the media following losses until he felt the same questions were being repeated over and over again and politely ask if there were any different ones before leaving.
While the three ex-athletes and studio host Ernie Johnson, a white guy, were critical of Newton, it wasn't disrespectful. They understood Newton's position and how a lot of the media has helped Newton's fan popularity by talking about his great on-field play and fun personality. This identification and classification of race with these men is only to show there are not all-White, anti-Newton and all-Black, pro-Newton people. Everybody understood Newton’s position, liked him as a person, but admitted he acted poorly.
As far as the newspaper writers and non-athlete radio/TV reporters, a lot of them had this bizarre feeling of personal insult, rejection, and demand for more information. Newton did not scream or curse at anyone. He was mostly soft-spoken. Newton seemed to show a decent amount of respect to them at the beginning of the press conference. This is noteworthy, considering Newton was being asked to share his feelings after losing the biggest game of his life. It’s a rough situation. The media was harder on him then NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Goodell has come under intense criticism from fans for his decisions while only mild complaints from the media.
The fair-weather media instead combusted into an avalanche of thunder, lightning, and sun-burning meteor-like insults at Newton. It was so unfair, unprofessional, biased in disapproval of Newton that it makes your blood boil to the point of losing your mind.
Here is a sampling of the “objective analysis” of Newton’s on-field play from the self-righteous, self-absorbed, selfish, whiny, spoiled “neutral reporters”.
Andrew Perloff, Dan Patrick Show blogger and website editor/Sports Illustrated NFL writer, during the NFC Championship when Newton handed a ball to a fan after scoring a touchdown
"Am I only one who thinks handing ball to kids feels like a show for TV? I'm sure I'm about to get bombarded w/ a charity angle I don't know".
Rick Reilly, part-time ESPN writer, full-time Denver Broncos fan
“Cam Newton: "Show me a good loser + I'll show you a loser." OK, Russell Wilson, last Super Bowl. Not a loser. Time to grow up.”
Dave Fleming, ESPN.com writer, commenting on potential injuries Cam Newton affecting his ability to recover a late 4th quarter fumble…
Here are Cam's dangerously twisted and contorted legs.
Neil Best, sports media writer for Newsday newspaper in New York, comparison between Manning’s losing Super Bowl press conference in 2010 and Newton’s in 2016. Here is the whole written conversation with reader Nick Devlin.
Best: If I ever play QB in a SB, I'll do a better job with media than Newton if I lose... and a better job choosing a beer than Manning if I win.
Devlin: players notice Cam getting slammed for having feelings, just reminds them to never say anything interesting
Best: Oy vey...
Devlin: you have to know how it looks when a media member grouses about how a player treats media. not exactly a noble fight.
Best: I agree media members whining is tricky. But . . . how about being a leader and not leaving all question-answering to teammates?
Devlin: fair but bigger problem is criticism doesn't get applied evenly. last time Peyton lost, he blamed his line and no one cared
Best: At least he talked.
That last statement by Best is factually incorrect, Manning was not the only one to talk after a loss. Newton was not very forthcoming with information but he answered all 13 questions that were asked. It's perfectly okay to debate the tone of Newton's answers but he talked, too.
There is a deeper issue with the media coverage of Manning and Newton. There are major differences between the two people. Manning is acts very serious while Newton acts more cheerful. Manning is introverted and Newton is extroverted. Most importantly, there are racial overtones that, unfortunately, can’t be denied. Manning is white and Newton is black. The positive or negative coverage of each one is littered with accusations of bias.
Shaun King, a black writer and political activist, wrote an opinion piece for The New York Daily News called “Super Bowl 50 highlights racial double standard in NFL”. King’s main argument is that when Manning lost Super Bowl 44 with Indianapolis, he didn’t congratulate any New Orleans players and wasn’t criticized for it while Newton was heavily criticized for leaving a post-game press conference with the media even though he shook Manning’s hand before leaving the field. King cites many viewpoints to support his argument but they all come from white people.
Chris Chase ,of Yahoo! Sports, wrote back in 2010 that Manning “Walking off the field without congratulating Drew Brees may go against our misguided notion of what sportsmanship should be, but it wasn't at all disrespectful or bitter. It shows how much Peyton Manning wanted to win the game. And who can argue about that?”. A few days after the Newton press conference, Chase, now at Foxsports.com, wrote “It took just about three minutes -- three childish, sulking, petulant minutes -- for Cam Newton to completely undo all the goodwill he'd created this NFL season, giving ammunition to his army of critics and leaving his fans with little to say in way of a defense after storming out of his post-game press conference following the Carolina Panthers' Super Bowl 50 loss”. Chase added “Evidently, he was just an act”, regarding to Newton’s laughing and smiling. Chase noted that “a man isn't judged by how he handles his successes but his defeats”. But isn’t Chase the same person who defended Peyton Manning not shaking any New Orleans player’s hand after losing the Super Bowl, six years earlier. So, it seems there is a pro-Manning, anti-Newton bias with Chase. Chris Chase is a white person.
Shaun King is black and his racial double standard piece fails to mention that Newton was criticized by black ex-athletes like him, as well. That’s more evidence that either Newton was wrong or the entire black/white sports media was wrong. King never points this out. Instead, he brings up an incident involving Peyton Manning and a trainer at The University of Tennessee, when he was a student in 1996. Jamie Ann Naughright stated that when she was treating his feet, Manning undressed his lower half clothing with his butt showing and sat down on Naughright’s face. She reported the situation to the university and eventually filed a lawsuit and was awarded over $300,000 in damages for that and other sexual harassment incidents.
Allegedly, both agreed to not discuss the case in public. King claims that Manning apparently wrote it in his autobiography and described it as more or less playful mooning. Yes, Manning was clearly wrong for what he did but it seems like the case(s) was settled. Naughright received money as compensation. Why is King making a big deal about the case now? Is it a legitimate inquiry on why Manning broke a court agreement or is it an illegitimate attempt to slander Manning? King says it was “something far more nefarious that would've likely dogged a black quarterback for his entire career”. In the NBA, Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers, is being celebrated by the league and its fans as part of his ongoing retirement tour in his last season. There are almost no mentions at all of his sexual assault case in the summer of 2003. Bryant was charged with sexual assault but the court case was dropped when the woman accusing him did not testify on her behalf.
Shaun King and Chris Chase represented a clear problem with some members of the media, racial bias. This favoritism goes both ways, unfortunately. For Andrew Perloff and Neil Best, especially, are Perloff's accusations of Newton giving away footballs only for good press and Best's view that Newton's press conference was bad (and Manning's good) a byproduct of neutral analysis or biased favoritism?
In part 2, we will explore how these and other factors have led to poor viewpoints in response to newly-discovered information in Peyton Manning's criminal sex incident at the University of Tennessee in 1996. The actual name for that incident, mooning prank vs. sexual assault, is debated upon by Manning and his accuser. The media seems to have taken sides instead of reporting the facts and providing background from the past that would connect it to the present.
