Sports
Talia Padilla - LW English
Cam Newton may be making headlines this week for his high-profile move to ESPN, but not everyone is celebrating the former MVP’s transition into sports media.
Comedian and cultural commentator T.K. Kirkland recently weighed in on Newton’s NFL exit, suggesting that the quarterback’s downfall wasn’t due to the league or declining skills, but rather his own ego.
Tom Brady tries to sabbotage Eli Manning card
Did Cam Newton fumbled his career?
Newton, who hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021, is set to join ESPN’s First Take as a regular contributor.
The announcement came with Newton promising to bring “passion and energy” to the show, adding that fans can expect “real talk, bold takes, and good fun.”
But Kirkland, speaking on the Get Got podcast, used the timing to highlight what he sees as a pattern among African American quarterbacks.
“Most of them sabotage their career,”Kirkland said.
“They thought they was bigger than the team.”
Kirkland singled out Newton as a prime example, criticizing his inability to embrace humility and teamwork.
“I think the Cam Newtons and them could’ve still been playing, but they sabotage their careers because of ego. Sometimes it can’t be about you, it has to be humbleness, it has to be respect.”
The critique echoes Newton’s own past remarks.
During a 2023 press appearance, he said, “I scare people… Because you can’t control me. I’m not a puppet. I cut them strings off a long time ago.”
His recent comments on First Take, where he stated he wouldn’t trade his MVP for a Super Bowl ring, only added fuel to the fire.
“I’m taking individual success because I did my job,” he said, sparking backlash among fans who felt he placed self over team.
While Newton’s career decline involved on-field struggles, including a 61.9% completion rate and poor touchdown-to-interception ratios in his final years, Kirkland believes attitude played a decisive role.
Despite flashes of brilliance, Newton’s larger-than-life persona may have worked against him in a league that often values compliance over charisma.
Now 35, Newton is embracing life after football with a growing media presence.
But for critics like Kirkland, the message remains: ego might have sidelined one of the game’s most dynamic talents long before his time was up.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Pittsburgh Steelers draft picks, grades: NFL draft order, mock drafts, rumors as Derrick Harmon taken 21st
Getty Images Fasten your seatbelts, Steelers fans, because the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a memorable one for Pittsburgh. For a second straight year, the Steelers completely turned over their quarterback room. Gone are Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who went a combined 10-8 (including the postseason) as Pittsburgh's starting quarterbacks last year. The Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolph and are hoping that Aaron Rodgers decides to join them sometime this spring/summer. With Rodgers still unsigned, the Steelers may be compelled to draft a quarterback, although they have more pressing needs on their roster. But it'll be interesting to see what Steelers general manager Omar Khan does if one of the draft's top-rated quarterbacks falls into their lap at some point during the draft. On Thursday night, Pittsburgh had a chance to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 21st pick, […]
New England Patriots draft picks, grades: NFL draft order, mock drafts, rumors as Will Campbell goes No. 4
Getty Images The New England Patriots are currently sitting in the doldrums of the NFL. The once dominant organization has since posted back-to-back 4-13 seasons, and is now on its third coach in as many years. While things have certainly taken a turn for the worst for Robert Kraft's team as of late, there is hope that the Patriots will claw back to relevancy. New England has seemingly found its quarterback of the future after selecting Drake Maye with the third overall pick last offseason, and have since tapped franchise icon Mike Vrabel to lead the organization going forward as its head coach. The club is also hot off the heels of strong free agent class where it brought in the likes of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses, addressing key areas on the roster. Now, the attention turns to […]
Rizek, Casagrande e Milton Neves sinalizam time que pode surpreender em 2025
André Rizek, Casagrande e Milton Neves (Reproduções/Globo, CNN e Divulgação/Band) André Rizek, Casagrande e Milton Neves chegaram a um consenso de que o São Paulo deverá evoluir na temporada. A vitória sobre o Libertad por 2 a 0 fora de casa na última quarta-feira (23) foi considerada redentora para Luis Zubeldía. O técnico argentino se livrou da pressão ao conduzir o SPFC a mais uma vitória fora de casa pela fase de grupos da Libertadores, mesmo diante de uma equipe com os desfalques de seus principais jogadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Rizek e Casagrande apontam favoritismo do SPFC nas Copas Em seu comentário para o ge.globo, André Rizek chamou atenção para a solidez do time são-paulino, mesmo sem Arboleda, Oscar, Lucas Moura e Calleri. Assim, o apresentador do Grupo Globo mostrou convicção de que o Tricolor Paulista deverá ser um time difícil […]
USC recruit Alijah Arenas no longer in coma after fiery car crash, family says
The family of Alijah Arenas, a five-star basketball recruit committed to the University of Southern California, said Friday that the high school star is no longer in a medically induced coma following a serious car crash Thursday morning.Arenas’ family announced the update on his condition in a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania. It said Arenas, 18, remains intubated but has shown “significant signs of progress over the last 24 hours.”AdvertisementThe statement includes an account from an unnamed individual who helped rescue Arenas from his Tesla Cybertruck after it struck a fire hydrant and a tree before catching fire.“I remember hearing banging on the car window, but I couldn’t see anything because the smoke was so thick. That’s when I realized someone was inside,” the person said. “I tried to break the window, but it wouldn’t give. Then I saw one […]
Down 2-0 in series, Oilers to start Calvin Pickard in Game 3 vs. Kings
EDMONTON — With their season teetering on the brink, the Edmonton Oilers are making a goalie change.Calvin Pickard has been tabbed to replace Stuart Skinner as the Oilers’ starter with the team down 2-0 ahead of Game 3 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.“Calvin’s come in and played some really big games for us dating back to last year,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “We’re in a position where we need to win a game, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”AdvertisementPickard got mop-up duty in Game 2, playing the final 9:30 of the blowout 6-2 defeat. Pickard allowed a goal on the first shot from the Kings by Adrian Kempe before stopping the last two he faced.That hasn’t been the only time he’s been called upon by the coaching staff in the playoffs.Pickard played […]
NFL likely to tweak Thanksgiving schedule in 2025, Christmas tripleheader set to become permanent
Getty Images The NFL is planning to take over Christmas. In two of the past three years, the league has scheduled a tripleheader for Dec. 25 and starting with 2025, that's going to become a permanent part of the schedule. Yup, the Christmas tripleheader is likely here to stay. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that news during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show Friday. "I think we will clearly have three games every year [on Christmas]," Goodell said. The NFL was already planning to hold a tripleheader this year with the league announcing in March that Netflix and Amazon would be streaming the games. Since Christmas is on a Thursday in 2025, Amazon will be getting its standard Thursday night game while Netflix will be handling the other two games as part of a three-year deal that it signed with the NFL in […]
Related
Pittsburgh Steelers draft picks, grades: NFL draft order, mock drafts, rumors as Derrick Harmon taken 21st
Getty Images Fasten your seatbelts, Steelers fans, because the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a memorable one for Pittsburgh. For a second straight year, the Steelers completely turned over their quarterback room. Gone are Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, who went a combined 10-8 (including the postseason) as Pittsburgh's starting quarterbacks last year. The Steelers re-signed Mason Rudolph and are hoping that Aaron Rodgers decides to join them sometime this spring/summer. With Rodgers still unsigned, the Steelers may be compelled to draft a quarterback, although they have more pressing needs on their roster. But it'll be interesting to see what Steelers general manager Omar Khan does if one of the draft's top-rated quarterbacks falls into their lap at some point during the draft. On Thursday night, Pittsburgh had a chance to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the 21st pick, […]
New England Patriots draft picks, grades: NFL draft order, mock drafts, rumors as Will Campbell goes No. 4
Getty Images The New England Patriots are currently sitting in the doldrums of the NFL. The once dominant organization has since posted back-to-back 4-13 seasons, and is now on its third coach in as many years. While things have certainly taken a turn for the worst for Robert Kraft's team as of late, there is hope that the Patriots will claw back to relevancy. New England has seemingly found its quarterback of the future after selecting Drake Maye with the third overall pick last offseason, and have since tapped franchise icon Mike Vrabel to lead the organization going forward as its head coach. The club is also hot off the heels of strong free agent class where it brought in the likes of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses, addressing key areas on the roster. Now, the attention turns to […]
Rizek, Casagrande e Milton Neves sinalizam time que pode surpreender em 2025
André Rizek, Casagrande e Milton Neves (Reproduções/Globo, CNN e Divulgação/Band) André Rizek, Casagrande e Milton Neves chegaram a um consenso de que o São Paulo deverá evoluir na temporada. A vitória sobre o Libertad por 2 a 0 fora de casa na última quarta-feira (23) foi considerada redentora para Luis Zubeldía. O técnico argentino se livrou da pressão ao conduzir o SPFC a mais uma vitória fora de casa pela fase de grupos da Libertadores, mesmo diante de uma equipe com os desfalques de seus principais jogadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Rizek e Casagrande apontam favoritismo do SPFC nas Copas Em seu comentário para o ge.globo, André Rizek chamou atenção para a solidez do time são-paulino, mesmo sem Arboleda, Oscar, Lucas Moura e Calleri. Assim, o apresentador do Grupo Globo mostrou convicção de que o Tricolor Paulista deverá ser um time difícil […]
USC recruit Alijah Arenas no longer in coma after fiery car crash, family says
The family of Alijah Arenas, a five-star basketball recruit committed to the University of Southern California, said Friday that the high school star is no longer in a medically induced coma following a serious car crash Thursday morning.Arenas’ family announced the update on his condition in a statement to ESPN’s Shams Charania. It said Arenas, 18, remains intubated but has shown “significant signs of progress over the last 24 hours.”AdvertisementThe statement includes an account from an unnamed individual who helped rescue Arenas from his Tesla Cybertruck after it struck a fire hydrant and a tree before catching fire.“I remember hearing banging on the car window, but I couldn’t see anything because the smoke was so thick. That’s when I realized someone was inside,” the person said. “I tried to break the window, but it wouldn’t give. Then I saw one […]
Down 2-0 in series, Oilers to start Calvin Pickard in Game 3 vs. Kings
EDMONTON — With their season teetering on the brink, the Edmonton Oilers are making a goalie change.Calvin Pickard has been tabbed to replace Stuart Skinner as the Oilers’ starter with the team down 2-0 ahead of Game 3 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.“Calvin’s come in and played some really big games for us dating back to last year,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “We’re in a position where we need to win a game, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”AdvertisementPickard got mop-up duty in Game 2, playing the final 9:30 of the blowout 6-2 defeat. Pickard allowed a goal on the first shot from the Kings by Adrian Kempe before stopping the last two he faced.That hasn’t been the only time he’s been called upon by the coaching staff in the playoffs.Pickard played […]
NFL likely to tweak Thanksgiving schedule in 2025, Christmas tripleheader set to become permanent
Getty Images The NFL is planning to take over Christmas. In two of the past three years, the league has scheduled a tripleheader for Dec. 25 and starting with 2025, that's going to become a permanent part of the schedule. Yup, the Christmas tripleheader is likely here to stay. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that news during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show Friday. "I think we will clearly have three games every year [on Christmas]," Goodell said. The NFL was already planning to hold a tripleheader this year with the league announcing in March that Netflix and Amazon would be streaming the games. Since Christmas is on a Thursday in 2025, Amazon will be getting its standard Thursday night game while Netflix will be handling the other two games as part of a three-year deal that it signed with the NFL in […]
Be the first to leave a comment