There are little words to describe Super Bowl 50. Between the two titan quarterbacks, the stage was set for both to personify greatness to the game. In one corner we had Cam Newton, the self-proclaimed ‘Superman,’ who was trying to crown himself as one of the games greatest. In the other corner, we had Peyton Manning, the legend, who was trying to glorify the end of his career with one last win. While Super Bowl 50 gave both individuals the script to create history, neither however, impresses on the biggest stage of their career.
Unlike Super Bowl 49 where we saw Tom Brady battling the immovable and unstoppable defense of the Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl 50 left both quarterbacks sitting from the sidelines only to doubt their abilities of success through incomplete passes and numerous interceptions. While the game ended with a crowned champion, we can honestly say that the true heroes for that game were not the quarterbacks, but the defensive line of the Denver Broncos. This inevitably gave Peyton Manning the fairytale ending many fans wanted to see as he ends his football career (speculating of course).
But even when the clock stopped at zero and the cameras were all eyes on Peyton, the real story didn’t quite happen on the field. Instead it happened afterwards in the locker room where we saw the dejected quarterback Cam Newton provide the reporters with short word explanations of the game such as “we lost” and “no.” It wasn’t until two minutes after where Newton decided to walk away from the media in his iconic Panthers hoodie only to hide his face away from the hungry reporters.
As a quarterback, you are the face of the franchise. Your actions and your words reflect the organization as a whole. While I do not condone this type of behavior and do believe you need to be bigger than yourself, I do understand where Cam is coming from. This, as I have stated above, was the biggest moment in Cam’s career to date. After a spectacular season with fifteen wins and only one loss, it is hard to accept the pain and defeat of Super Bowl 50. For weeks, they called Cam perfect. For countless games they highlighted his athleticism and his abilities. So when the perfect plan ended up failing, it is understandable why he would act that way. Just think about the past runner up quarterbacks of every Super Bowl game. While, they did not walk off from an interview, they did provide a similar demeanor that Cam gave to the press. Even Peyton Manning provided the same frustration when he walked off the field to allow Drew Brees and the Saints to assume their glory.
This anger and this disappointment should not represent Cam as a sore loser. Instead, it should epitomize the passion and energy he has for the game. As the critics have said, Cam Newton will be one of the best in the history of the game. This moment should not be looked as day of failure, but as an opportunity for success. All we can do now is wait until next season and see what Super Bowl 51 will offer for Cam and the Panthers.