While finally establishing himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, QB Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers continues pressing football fans to love or hate him. Regardless which side of the fence any particular fan may find themselves, Newton has made it very clear he doesn 't really care.
During his 5-year NFL career and even while playing his college ball at Auburn, Newton has never been one to worry about how polarizing he can be to the people around him. Its that strong persona that has carried him through several seasons when he was being criticized as the man who couldn 't win the big game at the NFL level. Still, he defies authority by dancing in the end zone and taking pictures on the sidelines in the middle of games.
With Super Bowl 50 a little more than a week away, Newton now stands on one of the biggest stages in all of sports. As the unquestioned leader of the favored Panthers that went 15-1 during the regular season
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With that in mind, Newton said in an interview, “I’m an African-American quarterback that may scare a lot of people because they haven’t seen nothing that they can compare me to.” This is a none too familiar topic that Newton broaches with great pride and yet disdain for those who dare to question the fact he is a black player playing a position previously dominated by white players.
Race issues aside, Newton would become only the third African-American starting quarterback in history to lead his team to a victory in the Superbowl should the Panthers win. The other two were Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (2013) and Doug Williams, Washington Redskins (1987).
When asked about how he feels about his polarizing reputation, Newton responded by saying “Whether you win, lose or draw, people are going to talk. Now the true fans -- they know what’s up. They’re going to be supportive whatever happens.... But people are going to judge and have their own opinion on certain things that I don’t have control over nor does anybody