Former NFL players aren’t happy with the “disrespect” displayed toward Cam Newton, who was involved in a brawl at a 7-on-7 football game in Atlanta on Sunday.
Hall of fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson were furious while discussing the incident in the latest installment of their “Nightcap” podcast.
“Y’all think that’s cute [to tell Newton he’s trash]. It’s not,” Sharpe said. “It’s really embarrassing that somebody takes time out of their day… and try to give back and you’re disrespectful, ungrateful.
“Cam is way better than me because I don’t have patience for my own kids disrespecting me. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let somebody else’s kid disrespect me.”
In videos posted on social media, Newton — a former MVP quarterback who played 11 NFL seasons — appeared to be outnumbered in an altercation at an event organized by We Ball Sports, an apparel and sports media company.
According to The Athletic, Newton was approached at the event by individuals involved with TopShelf Performance — a wide receiver training facility in Atlanta, which also had youth teams in the event — at the top of a set of stairs near a We Ball Sports tent, where the fight started and spilled over to a grassy area.
Two of the men fighting were both coaches for TopShelf Performance and formerly coached with Newton, a source told The Athletic.
Newton’s C1N program participated in the tournament, which included youth under-15 and under-18 teams in Georgia and Alabama.
“Knowing Cam like I do…. he’s not going to allow this to bother him,” Johnson said.
“When you have someone like Cam Newton giving players an opportunity to display themselves at these 7-on-7 camps, you’re supposed to be taking advantage of these situations. Many times I’ve seen players, coaches and parents disrespect Cam Newton at these camps.”
Sharpe agreed.
“Peyton and Eli [Manning] have been having a camp for 20-something years,” Sharpe added. “You ain’t never seen no kids being disrespectful to Peyton and Eli.”
Police and security guards at the event intervened and split up the altercation, as seen in videos on social media.
Former NFL quarterback-turned-ESPN broadcaster Robert Griffin III also weighed in on the incident in a series of posts on X, which included video footage of the scuffle.
“Cam Newton led Auburn to a Natty with 1 O-lineman that started an NFL game and no one else recording a NFL reception, rush attempt or pass attempt,” Griffin wrote. “He’s used to being a one man army, so you are delulu if you thought some guys jumping him was gonna phase him. Hat didn’t even move.”
In another post, Griffin wrote: “In all seriousness, I HATE seeing this. Cam Newton nor anyone should ever be disrespected in this way. How can we rise, do better for our communities and change the narrative when we are attacking each other like this?
“Turning a 7 on 7 tournament into a brawl and people leave with the wrong impression of an event meant to bring people together for fun and competition. We have to be better than this. We are better than this.
“The Cam Newton fight was an unbelievable feat of standing on business and a high profile display of how we have to stop attacking each other if we want to change the narrative.”
The footage showed “dudes trying to jump Cam Newton,” who took a “sucker punch” to the face,” Griffin said in a reaction video he shared on X.
Newton and everyone involved in the altercation were removed from the tournament, according to Nehemiah Mitchell, the co-founder of We Ball Sports, who called it “an unfortunate situation.”
TopShelf defeated Newton’s C1N in a “heated game,” and there was a lot of trash talk between the under-18 teams, according to Mitchell.
TopShelf Performance trainers/coaches Stephon and TJ Brown said in a joint statement to The Athletic that the company is “actively addressing this matter internally.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent incident involving Cam Newton, and our thoughts are with all parties affected,” the statement said. “Violence has no place in our community, and we strongly condemn any form of aggression.”
Newton has yet to address the incident publicly.
It’s unclear if law enforcement was further involved.
The No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Auburn, Newton went on to play 11 seasons for the Panthers and Patriots, earning three Pro Bowls and an NFL MVP in 2015, when he led the Panthers to a Super Bow appearance.
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