Cam Newton needs to hire former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson as his press secretary.
The former Buccaneers quarterback who guided his team to a 48-21 win over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVIII made the one comment that makes the most sense pertaining to Newton's actions during his fourth quarter fumble against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
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"It was a weird play, and he might have reacted slow, but he did go to the ground," Johnson told SI's MMQB about Newton, who dove for the ball only after (Broncos defensive end DeMarcus) Ware had landed. "Sometimes it's hard to find the ball. Who's to say? Maybe you would like him to dive on it a little bit quicker."
Up to that point of the game, Newton had taken a beating from the Denver defense. The prevailing argument that he made a business decision is inconsistent with his willingness to stay in the pocket to make plays previously.
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Newton certainly didn't help his own cause with his eventual explanation of his leg being contorted and that the fumble didn't cost the Panthers the game, which Johnson disputes.
But it's difficult to believe that Newton's instinct was to avoid getting hit as the reason why he backed away from the ball. The Carolina QB may have thought that center Ryan Kalil coming down on Ware may have knocked the ball away, and Newton didn't want to commit his body to a spot that the ball might've been leaving.
As Johnson pointed out, Newton did eventually drop to his knees and still was subject to taking a shot had the ball squirted free again.
By the time Newton did get around to answering the question, he may have just wanted to move past the issue without revealing the real answer. No matter what he said at that point, it was going to get scrutinized because of the video showing him backing off.
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