Cam Newton posts old mug shot saying: ‘Learn from this story’
Nine years ago, Cam Newton was arrested for stealing a laptop while he was a backup quarterback at the University of Florida.
Yesterday the Panthers quarterback posted his mugshot from November 21, 2008, on Instagram along with a lengthy message stating that he’s grateful for the “second chance” he got from the NFL.
“On this date I thought my life and my career was over and the fact that I had shamed my family with the media coverage surrounding this situation I vowed to myself on this day (9 yrs ago) that ‘I will be better from this situation,’” Newton wrote. “What you must learn from this story is this; if you live your life listening to what other people are saying what you should do and not your own, shame on you!”
Newton was charged with felony burglary and larceny as well as obstructing justice after he tossed the laptop he had stolen out of his dorm window when the cops came to talk to him.
Newton, who was 19 at the time, was suspended from the team while he was in jail but the charges were dropped when he finished a court-appointed pretrial intervention program.
— Mother puts recorder in child’s backpack to catch bullies, faces felony charge —
He later transferred to Blinn Junior College for one year before leading Auburn to the national championship in 2010. At that time, he won the Heisman Trophy.
Then, in the 2011 draft, he was Carolina’s No.1 pick.
He also wrote that his ability to tune out those that didn’t believe in him is part of why he has been so successful.
“I can honestly say to you today that no one gave me a chance to succeed down bad in my situation and if I would have listened to those people that said I can’t, who knows where I would be today,” he said. “So I’m extremely thankful for God’s mercy, grace and favor over my life, so if I can do it with my circumstances surely you can do it and be whatever you want to be with hard work and persistence – Love.”
In October Newton faced criticism for his sexist comment to a female reporter but he says he’s not living with regrets.
“Side note: And people wonder why I play the game the way I do, act the way I act, dress the way I dress, and even live the way I live because in some people’s eyes ‘I’m not supposed to be here’ but in my eyes I’m not going to have any regrets with the second chance God has given me,” he said.
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