Former NFL MVP Cam Newton addresses controversial 'game manager' comments

Former Carolina Panthers star quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton received criticism when he controversially referred to 2023 NFL MVP candidates San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys as "game managers." 

Per Chris Rosvoglou of the Spun, Newton expanded on his original take in a video he shared via social media. 

"Game manager is not a negative connotation," Newton insisted. "...My definition of that managing player is a player who has the ability to make the right play at the right time, protecting the football at all costs. When I think about ultimate, elite game managers—Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady. Game-changer and game manager is not something where I'm saying this person is not physically capable of making some great plays. I'm not saying that, or I am not saying that they're not good players." 

Newton named injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes among his "game-changing" players at the sport's most important position.

Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing noted earlier this week that some media personalities ripped the outfit Newton rocked in the video that featured his initial "game manager" comments. Newton seemed to hit back at those individuals in his latest post. 

"Over the last 24 hours, there have been a lot of people who have had a lot to say about the comments I made on my sports show," Newton remarked. "Some are true. Some are not so true. Some subjective. All of it is still opinionated at the end of the day. The thing that I have a problem with is, address the point that I made, not me."

Regardless of what anybody thinks of Newton's fits, it seems a so-called "game manager" could ultimately win the MVP Award this year. As of Friday afternoon, oddschecker listed Prescott as the betting favorite at +170 odds to claim MVP honors. Purdy was second at +200, followed by Jackson at +650.