Cam Newton
Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)AP
Former NFL MVP quarterback Cam Newton is pushing back on the idea that only former players have credible opinions on sports, taking aim at Emmanuel Acho’s recent comments on his “Speakeasy” podcast.
Newton went after the former Eagles linebacker for comments Acho made about tuning out sports commentary from people who never played professionally.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Acho criticized ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith for taking a shot at New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and his weight, with Smith calling him a “food addict” and making other comments at Williamson’s expense.
Acho said that media members such as Smith, Skip Bayless and others who did not play professionally do not understand the pressures of the game. He said their opinions should be consumed differently than those of someone with playing experience like himself.
“That’s what Stephen A. often does,” Acho said. “In the sake and in the name of entertainment, he made it personal. But the other problem is … people get on me and say, ‘Acho, your career this and your career that,’ and I hear them. But what was hard for me is people who literally didn’t make it to the league.”
Newton, who appears as a commentator on ESPN, went on his own podcast, “4th & 1,″ and said he once shared Acho’s opinion but has since changed his view.
“I will say I was one of those that had the same thought process of, ‘Hey, what gives you the right to say it?’” Newton said. “If anything, I do kind of believe what Emmanuel says. We are experts in our field because we have the experience. But people who also watched us on sidelines for years covering us are experts because they tell a different story, they have a different view, and we can’t muzzle them.”
Newton cited former “First Take” host Molly Qerim and Netflix sports anchor Elle Duncan as examples of commentators who have offered sports insights without having played professionally.
“There are so many different people that may not have ever played and you can’t listen to what they say?” Newton said. “It’s contradicting because sometimes even on your own platform, Emmanuel, a person did not play, but yet you’re giving him a platform to speak on.”