Cam Newton calls himself ‘sore loser’ but defends his actions

They know what’s real, and I leave everything else out on the field, I prepare the right way, I have a mentality and a standard I set for myself, and I’m not going to bend nor break.

And Manning’s done this before: After the 2014 AFC Championship game, Manning pined aloud for a Bud Light at the postgame press conference.

Speaking with the media is optional on exit day at the end of the season, but Newton wanted to address the criticism directed at him since then. “I’m on record as being a sore loser”, he told the Charlotte Observer. Who likes to lose?

I am happy to say that. I’m human. I’ve never once said that I was flawless.

On the fumble in the fourth quarter where he appeared to avoid diving for it, and the Broncos recovered near the goal line to seal the game: ” OK, you say my effort.

Obviously you’re disappointed. On the biggest stage it’s hard, I know. I want to go kiss my wife and my kids, I want to go hug my family. I haven’t had time to process the other information, but what a prince of a guy, what a great leader.

“He was able to compose himself today and speak to you folks, and I think that’s huge”. I understand that. I am my own person. I’m proud of who he is as a competitor and a football player.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera was asked about the play and whether he had discussed it with his quarterback.

Newton responded to that on Tuesday, admitting he didn’t want to risk injury on the play.

“That’s definitely part of his edge”, Rivera said. “Where we get a chance to sit down and talk to him, that’s up to Peyton, where he is in that process, what he thinks he can… what he wants to do from here on out”.

“I think he was looking for the rebound”.

After hearing Newton, the Panthers players in the locker room started yelling, “We love you, Cam”.

The Broncos did successfully go for two, and their defense did make some stops on the way to a 24-10 victory.

“I’ve got no more tears to cry”, he told reporters. “That’s the truth of the matter”. That didn’t carry over to the presser, which sparked anger all over social media.

Newton’s conduct attracted plenty of ire – as well as support – and on Tuesday he refused to apologize. We dropped balls, we turned the ball over, gave up sacks, threw errant passes.

Well, a lot of them celebrated. At first, it looks like Newton will have a path to dive on the ball. “We were surprised and delighted that he did”, said Lisa Weser, spokeswoman for Anheuser-Busch InBev, on Twitter.