Cam Newton bashes MVP front-runners: 'These are game managers'
Despite repeated attempts at staging an NFL comeback, there’s a reason why former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton remains unemployed.
Newton, who stated in March there weren’t 32 starting QBs better than him during a workout at Auburn’s pro day — a statement that proved to be untrue after receiving zero offers to play in 2023 despite injuries to several starting QBs — has resurfaced on social media recently with a hot take proving he still knows next to nothing about the landscape of playing quarterback in today’s NFL.
The 34-year-old Newton called out some of the top signal-callers in the league — three of whom are in the conversation for NFL MVP — insinuating none of the success of their respective teams is because of them.
“Brock Purdy, [the 49ers are] not winning because of him,” Newton said. “He’s managing the game. And if we were to put that in its own right as game managers, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, and really, Dak Prescott — these are game managers, they’re not difference-makers. … If we’re really going to call a spade a space, then a game manager is different than a game-changer.”
Newton's claims riled up several media pundits, who pushed back on his jaded claims.
While Newton likely believes he’s 100% correct in his assessment, the numbers say he’s actually way off base.
All four players have a combined record of 38-14 as starters this year, and they rank first (Purdy), second (Prescott), third (Tagovailoa) and ninth (Goff) in passer rating.
Purdy also leads the NFL in completion percentage (70.2), and he ranks second in touchdowns (25) and third in passing yards (3,553) with the third-fewest interceptions (seven) of any QB to start every game.
Tagovailoa leads the league in passing yards and ranks second in completion percentage (70) and fourth in touchdowns (24), while Prescott leads the league in touchdowns (28) and ranks fourth in passing yards (3,505) with the second-fewest interceptions (six) of QBs to start every game.
Goff ranks in the top 10 in several passing categories including passing yards (sixth) and touchdowns (eighth), and he’s tied for the fourth-most game-winning drives this season (three).
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