For better or worse, Cam Newton is under a significant amount of pressure. In the last two years, Newton has won an BCS national championship and taken home the Heisman Trophy and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
The No. 1 pick of the 2011 draft, Newton showed tons of promise in his first NFL season. But this year the quarterback and his team have gotten off to a 1-3 start, and Newton cannot hide his disappointment. After losing to the New York Giants on national TV, Newton was caught pouting on the sidelines and was chided by wide receiver Steve Smith and the Charlotte Observer.
This week, after a last-minute loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Newton was reportedly sulking again. Despite a respectable night, Newton was 15-for-24 with two touchdowns while rushing for 86 yards and another touchdown, he had a costly fumble which forced the Panthers to punt late in the game. The Falcons stormed down the field and kicked the game-winning field goal.
After the game, Newton was so donwtrodden that the entire team had to wait while he sulked in the locker room.
Apparently, this problem goes back a decade. Newton's father, Cecil, said he remembers his son sulking for an entire weekend after losing a softball game when he was 12.
You've got to feel for Newton. He won national championships in junior college and at Auburn, and things haven't gone his way thus far in the NFL. But at some point, he's got to accept losing and move on. It's part of the game.
(H/T to Black Sports Online)
