Yes. I gained a huge amount of respect for Wilson last year, and also Sherman. They were both very humble and classy in defeat. They DO have character.
I am a Pats fan, and there are a lot of people (maybe even you two as well, for all I know) who knock him unmercifully (and unfairly, in my opinion) for being timid, weak, and a whiner.
But watching that game last night showed that while Cam Newton may someday be a good quarterback, he will never be a great quarterback. Brady got his butt kicked on the big stage a few times, both of the Superbowls against the Giants, and a couple of weeks ago against the Denver team that won last night.
In those games, even though he was being pounded, sacked, and intercepted, he never gave up. Ever. He can put on a negative face as all players do (When Peyton Manning has issues, we good-naturedly call it his “Peyton Face”)
But even when Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers, et al have games like that and put on a face, they don’t give up. In all of those games with Brady that I mentioned, he kept himself in the game, he kept leading, and he kept trying.
Last night, Cam Newton gave up. He stopped leading his team. He could be a “leader” when things were going his way, but who can’t? Anyone can be a leader when everything is going well. It is how you deal with adversity that defines your leadership, and Cam Newton failed as a leader in every way possible.
When he was rolling all over the sideline on a bad play, it was a disappointment to see, but not surprising. When he took a hit in the end zone and actually looked like a toddler having a temper tantrum, laying on his back pounding his feet and hands (it seemed to me) that isn’t leadership.
And when he pouted, sulked, and showed his true colors on the podium after the game, that wasn’t leadership either. ANYONE can win with dignity, grace and humility, but only true leaders can lose with dignity, grace, and humility.
I can abide and disregard some offensive lineman (Stork on the Pats) or a running back (Marshawn Lynch) being a jerk, because they aren’t considered to be leaders on a team in many cases, and there are all types.
But if you are a leader, no matter your position, you must lead. You must conduct yourself accordingly. Others take their cues from you. And that is what people like Brady, Wilson, Sherman, and others do.
That is why they are great players. Will Cam Newton change? Perhaps. But he is 26 years old now, and has had several seasons of intensive coaching to handle this aspect of his game. He reverted to his nature when the going got tough. Last night he had the look of a player for whom the moment was far too big for him.
I thought Carolina would win going into the game, but that was based on them getting out to a fast start, like in their previous two games.
But, I felt that if Denver could keep it close, Cam would get frustrated and ultimately the Broncos would prevail, and it turned out to be exactly what happened.
Well stated.
I see some of the sport talking heads are giving Newton a pass on his immature behavior, saying that it will soon be forgotten.
What will NOT be forgotten is his jumping away from his own fumble like a startled rabbit. That is unprecedented (as far as I know) in the NFL. It will forever be a Super Bowl highlight and an albatross around Cam’s neck. I think that may be the main reason for his post-game sulking...it runs counter to his pre-game (and season long) “I’m-a-black-superman-whom-white-people-fear” bravado.