NFL: PGT: Super Bowl 50

[Sports Enthusiast]

I happened to think it was pretty great. A couple of screens, even an option, tough defense. Better than the pocket passing flag football games most of the NFL season is.

I liked defense but outside of the 2 fumble recoveries and a big punt return nothing sticks out.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article45163665.html

Tennesee Titans fan Rosemary Plorin of Nashville attended Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers with her fourth-grade daughter. On Monday, she sent us this note she wrote to Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton:

Dear Mr. Newton,

Congratulations on your win in Nashville today. Our team played well, but yours played better. Kudos to the Panthers organization.

That game happened to be my nine year old daughter’s first live NFL experience. She was surprised to see so many Panthers’ fans sitting in our section of the stadium; that doesn’t happen much at fourth grade football games. And she was excited we were near the end zone, so we would be close to the “action,†particularly in the second half.

Because of where we sat, we had a close up view of your conduct in the fourth quarter. The chest puffs. The pelvic thrusts. The arrogant struts and the ‘in your face’ taunting of both the Titans’ players and fans. We saw it all.

I refuse to believe you don’t realize you are a role model. You are paid millions of dollars every week to play hard and be a leader. In the off season you’re expected to make appearances, support charities, and inspire young kids to pursue your sport and all sports. With everything the NFL has gone through in recent years, I’m confident they have advised that you are, by virtue of your position and career choice, a role model.

And because you are a role model, your behavior brought out like behavior in the stands. Some of the Panthers fans in our section began taunting the hometown fans. Many Titans fans booed you, a few offering instructive, but not necessarily family friendly, suggestions as to how you might change your behavior.

My daughter sensed the change immediately – and started asking questions. Won’t he get in trouble for doing that? Is he trying to make people mad? Do you think he knows he looks like a spoiled brat?

I didn’t have great answers for her, and honestly, in an effort to minimize your negative impact and what was otherwise a really fun day, I redirected her attention to the cheerleaders and mascot.

I could tell she was still thinking about it as we boarded a shuttle back to our car. “I guess he doesn’t have kids or a Mom at home watching the game,†she added.

I don’t know about your family life Mr. Newton, but I think I’m safe in saying thousands of kids watch you every week. You have amazing talent and an incredible platform to be a role model for them. Unfortunately, what you modeled for them today was egotism, arrogance and poor sportsmanship.

Is that what your coaches and mentors modeled for you, Mr. Newton?

Players should NOT be a role model. A role model should be someone who has a direct impact on ones life. Sure maybe they can set an example but at the same time they shouldn't be looked at for guidance on life either. They have no impact on your life. Sports are honestly a one way relationship.

 

[Sports Enthusiast]

I'm explaining Newton's thought process here.

Newton said: "I didn't want to get injured."

Which everyone here took as "selfish", and that's fine (though it says something if you're angry about that), but another way to interpret that is that Newton acted because he didn't want to get taken out of the game. Which would have 100% ruined his teams chances of winning.

Of course, if he had said that, the football world would have gone to DEFCON 5, both keys in the lock, turn on my signal, **** the Soviets.

So with that in mind...you think the MVP of the season getting taken out when his team had to march 80 yards to score on his back is "no big deal"?

This is debatable. Its not like down 12 or 14 with 3 minutes left that his team had much of a chance anyway. If he recovers its 4th down and they either punt it or go for it. I believe they had 2 timeouts. So the defense would have had to make a stop anyway.