Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton responded to a fan who taunted him about his lack of Super Bowl rings by bragging about his career earnings and performing a crude sexual gesture.
On the sideline of a “1ON1” New Orleans football camp event, the fan shouted at Newton, “How many rings you got?” The ex-Carolina Panthers star, who went to the Super Bowl in the 2015 season but lost to the Denver Broncos, acknowledged that he didn’t have any.
“But, we don’t got the same bank account,” Newton told the heckling fan before making a stroking motion in front of his crotch. A bystander could be heard saying, “You’re too famous to be acting like that.” The 34-year-old responded by saying they shouldn’t play the victim.
In 11 NFL seasons, Newton earned an estimated $133.5 million from contracts with the Panthers and New England Patriots. He also garnered high-profile sponsorships from companies such as Beats by Dr. Dre, Under Armor and Gatorade at his MVP peak. Undoubtedly, he’s a rich man, though an abrupt end to his NFL career have perhaps made him sensitive to criticism.
Injuries contributed to Newton’s decline. As a strong runner, he took more hits than most other NFL quarterbacks, possibly leading to his body breaking down.
Newton first injured his throwing arm in 2016, and issues with the region cropped up throughout the remainder of his career. He tweaked his rotator cuff in 2017 and his shoulder in 2018, leading to a pair of surgeries he never fully recovered from. He also suffered a severe foot injury in 2019.
“Last time I’ve been healthy?” Newton said in 2020. “Honest, 2016. I threw an interception, I tried to go make the tackle, and I tried to push him out, and I extended my arm, and I messed up my AC joint. And ever since then, there’s just been a part of me that’s just been a wounded dog.
“Like a wounded lion almost. Just, ‘I’m not right.’ I feel good at times, but when I’m running I still feel it. So instead of running them over, I’m going to turn this shoulder and just go down.”
While the three-time Pro Bowl nominee never officially retired, he last threw a pass on December 26, 2021. He hasn’t had a winning season under centre since 2017.
In a video posted to YouTube earlier this year, he claimed he could still make an NFL comeback. But despite the successes he enjoyed earlier in his career, including the 15-1 regular season record in 2015, any return to a roster would surprise fans.
“I know a lot of people have a lot of things to say in regards to my future in the NFL,” he said. “And I wanted to set the record straight by saying this is how I feel. There ain’t 32 guys that’s better than me. But I also know that I could also be a backup. And I’m willing to be a backup.”
