Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has found himself in yet another controversy, this time with his former Panther teammates.
Newton called the 2010 Panthers a “locker room of losers” — that comment did not sit well with his former teammates, and now they are clapping back. “My issue is, when I was the first pick, I went into a locker room of losers. Guys didn’t know how to win,” Newton said.
Former Panthers Rip Cam Newton
Newton made those comments on Travis Hunter’s podcast, and it wasn’t too long before those comments reached his former Carolina teammates, like Steve Smith Sr. and Captain Munnerlyn, who had some interesting things to say about their former teammate.
Munnerlyn told The Athletic that Newton’s comments were a “slap in the face and crazy.”
“For him to say that we was losers was a slap in the face,” Munnerlyn said. “This was a team who was two years removed from playing in the NFC Divisional Round against the Arizona Cardinals. We lost a couple pieces. We had Checkdown Jimmy Clausen at quarterback and we had a bad year. … For him to say losers was crazy.”
Munnerlyn also said he believes Newton said what he said to remain relevant.
“He wants to be relevant still,” Munnerlyn said. “He’s in this media world where he does his podcasts and [ESPN’s] ‘First Take’ stuff, which is good. I’m happy for him. I’m proud of him. But I think he still says some stuff just to be relevant still. And if you know Cam, you’ve been around him for years, that’s Cam Newton.”
But Steve Smith went even further with his comments on Newton. He posted this on X:
“53 man locker room – 1 = 52 losers. Wow… breaking news to 89,” Smith wrote on X. “I’ve watched & listened from a far as U @CameronNewton talk about @Panthers! None of us are perfect. Yes We were 2-14 before you blessed us w ur presence. The way you have talked about @panthers lately I’m very disappointed. I wish u nothing but the very best. I’m done!!!”
53 man lockeroom – 1 = 52 losers
Wow… breaking news to 89! 🤬 https://t.co/sLYEbSxH3i
— Steve Smith Sr. (@SteveSmithSr89) February 10, 2025
When a fan under his post pointed out that Smith has criticized the Panthers in the past, Smith responded: “I’ve never backed down from my words. However calling the men in the locker room losers isn’t slander it’s disrespectful! I disliked a lot of things that happened w/ my time there. But calling men losers naw.”
Who knows why Newton said what he said? One can only speculate on the reasons behind his comments.