Image via Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Newton reveals latest deep seeded Panthers secret about a moment that went viral

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ian Kayanja | Last updated Mar 22, 2024 1:03 PM ET

Kelvin Benjamin's time playing for the Carolina Panthers was riddled with early success and late flameouts.

He played two full seasons for the Panthers. In his rookie season, Benjamin reached 1,000 receiving yards. He and quarterback Cam Newton had a connection that blossomed throughout the 16-game run. After missing the 2015 season due to injury, Benjamin returned in 2016 and racked up only 941 receiving yards. He was clearly on the decline. Not long after, he was traded.

The deal brought hard feelings for Benjamin, who took it personally resulting in a pre-game scuffle between him and Newton in 2018 that went viral.

It was the moment that the Newton Benjamin beef went public. However, recently, the 2015 NFL MVP revealed what happened between him and the former Panthers star receiver.

The anger started when Benjamin had some choice words after landing with the Buffalo Bills in an interview in The Athletic.

"I should’ve never went to Carolina. Truly, I just think Carolina was bad for me. It was a bad fit from the get-go. If you would’ve put me with any other quarterback, let’s be real, you know what I’m saying?" Benjamin said. "Any other accurate quarterback like Rodgers or Eli Manning or Big Ben — anybody! — quarterbacks with knowledge, that know how to place a ball and give you a better chance to catch the ball. It just felt like I wasn’t in that position."

Newton saw the comments and in an episode of his 4th & 1 with Cam Newton podcast, the Panther great revealed that he walked up to Benjamin to ask if everything was "ok."

"I know who he was," Newton said. "He took a lot of things personally. I was hurt. That was a guy who I confided in and met his mom – rest in peace – his daughter, and we had built an alliance. So I said, 'Bro, you good? We straight. We ain't never been able to talk.'"

Newton explained that he tried to mend the situation and explain to Benjamin that the trade wasn't personal. It wasn't something Benjamin wanted to hear. The two haven't talked since that moment.

"It's sad," Newton said.

He's not wrong. Benjamin last played in the NFL in 2018.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: