Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon believes that the media scrutiny of Carolina’s Cam Newton is partly based on stereotypes of black quarterbacks in the NFL.
Newton’s been criticized because of his demeanor following a a 19-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which left the Panthers with a 1-5 record and their general manger, Marty Hurney, without a job.
According to the Charlotte Observer, Newton appeared frustrated when he was asked by a female reporter what the Panthers could do to score more points:
“I’m going to leave this room and I’m going to bring in a suggestion box and I want your suggestions to be in that suggestion box because I sure don’t know … I really don’t. I wish I could tell you. But the only thing I control, sweetheart, is myself. Offensively, I am the leader of this bunch and we haven’t been getting the job done.”
In an interview with Yahoo! Sports earlier in the week, Moon said:
“I don’t understand it … I heard somebody compare him to Vince Young. It’s the same old crap – it’s always a comparison of one black to another black. I get tired of it. I get tired of defending it [...]. [...] If you want to compare him to someone because of his demeanor, compare him to Jay Cutler. There are a lot of guys who whine and moan.”
Although Moon believes that Newton’s post-game demeanor needs to improve, he said Newton is “just disgruntled and not handling losing well, because, think about it, he basically didn’t lose in college.”
However, Newton when asked by the Chicago Tribune what his reaction was to Warren Moon’s comments, he said:
“I haven’t heard anything he said. But obviously Warren is a person I go to for guidance and leadership on the field and off the field. When it comes to (racism) I don’t think there is any at all.”
Moon’s been mentoring and defending Newton since before the Heisman winner was drafted number one overall in 2011. One scout sharply criticized Newton before draft day for being “very disingenuous” and having a “selfish, me-first make-up.” Moon slammed the scouting report and accused Cam of being the target of racial bias.
