Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton has apologized for getting involved in a viral brawl at a 7v7 youth football tournament this past Sunday.
Newton said on his “4th&1” podcast that the incident stemmed from trash talk and that he’s “disappointed” in himself for putting himself in that situation.
“There was a lot of talking on both sides — on all sides,” Newton said. “I don’t wanna point the finger and say well this person said this, or that person said that. It’s all in the nature of sports. Am I saying this is the first time that it happened or the last time that it will happen? It’s just something that starts with words and it should have ended with words. That’s it.
“I’m disappointed in myself by letting it escalate to what it did. And that’s why I’m apologetic to it. I’ve seen clips on clips on clips. I’ve seen the content that they put out or whatever. The truth of the matter is this: Me being in my position, I should have never put myself in that position. That’s just the truth. Even then, it’s like, that s— could have gotten ugly.”
Details emerge of 7v7 tournament scuffle involving Cam Newton
In clips posted to social media, Newton was spotted in a melee between multiple individuals. Others rushed in to help break up the squabble, including those wearing staff and security markers. Newton has been involved in the youth football community for a long time. In 2011, he started C1N, an organization that focuses on “developing young athletes’ skills in football by providing opportunities to compete at the highest level through 7v7 tournaments and other events.”
The two men shown fighting Newton in the viral video are coaches for TopShelf Performance, also known as TSP. The pair had previously coached with Newton. Nehemiah Mitchell, a former outside linebacker at Vanderbilt and co-founder of We Ball Sports, provided The Athletic with further details.
“According to Mitchell, TopShelf beat C1N in a “heated game” with a lot of trash talk between the under-18 teams on Saturday. The tensions boiled over on Sunday.
“There were 16 teams in each division, with the top under-18 team earning a $5,000 prize and the top under-15 team receiving $1,500. Over 1,500 people attended the event.”
Mitchell also told the outlet that everyone involved in the scuffle, including Newton, was removed from the event. Newton said that the situation could have escalated further and encouraged others to use his situation as a reminder that “in one moment and in one decision, your life can change just like that.”
“There’s no excuse,” Newton said, via TMZ Sports. “It’s really not, ’cause it could’ve been a melee, more violence could’ve stemmed from that, and it’s just not called for.”
More must-reads: