Cam Newton: Excessive…or Simply Enthusiastic?

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year. On Sunday, the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers will take to the gridiron against the AFC Champion Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

Leading the way for the Broncos is Super Bowl XLI Champion and Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning. Across the field, on the Panthers’ sideline, will be Cam Newton, the energetic young signal caller from Atlanta, Georgia.

While both quarterbacks are extremely talented in their own respective ways, one has been receiving quite a bit of criticism over the last few months. Newton’s hyperactive, energetic, and spirited celebrations have drawn the ire of many, ranging from former All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher to a mother who had taken her 9-year-old daughter to her first NFL game (and proceeded to write him a letter afterwards).

He’s been labeled “excessive”, “unnecessary”, “unsportsmanlike”, and “over-the-top” by sports enthusiasts that dislike his celebrations. Personally? I call him a talented entertainer.

In only his fifth NFL season, he has set countless records, both team and league-wide. He is the latest in a dangerous hybrid of quarterback that has been infused with the eye, speed, agility, and strength of a running back.

In 2015, Newton became the first quarterback in the history of the league to throw 30 touchdown passes and rush for 10 in the same season. In that same season, he also became the first quarterback to throw for 300 yards and five touchdowns while recording at least 100 rushing yards in a single game. And, on a broader scale, the Carolina Panthers are on their way to the big dance after completing their most successful regular season in franchise history (15-1).

Fans that critique his celebrations are either watching their very first season of football or simply turning a blind eye to the rest of the league. Stars like Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt, and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown all have their own ways of celebrating big plays. Occasionally, fines come. But when you’re succeeding in what you love to do, doesn’t it deserve jubilation?

Even more so, fans fail to recognize that celebrations have long been a part of what makes the game unique. Jamal Anderson introduced Atlanta Falcons fans to the “Dirty Bird”. Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Joe Horn retrieved a cell phone from the goal post. 49ers legend Terrell Owens pulled a Sharpie from his sock. Even as far back as the 1970s, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson was dazzling crowds with dances like the “Funky Chicken” and the “Six Shooter” as a member of the Houston Oilers.

It’s part of the game. It’s innovative. And, at the end of the day, it’s fun. People are going to celebrate when they succeed. It’s what they do. Earlier in the 2015 season, Newton was asked about his celebrations and how he felt about critics of his antics. His response was simple, yet bold. He said, “If you don’t like it… keep me out of the end zone.”

On December 9, 2014, Newton was in a car accident that left him with two fractures in his back. On February 7, 2016, as the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player, he will be leading the Carolina Panthers into the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. And, should the Panthers take home the Lombardi Trophy, he will add another timeless piece to a mantle that already includes an NCAA and NJCAA title (from Auburn University and Blinn College, respectively).