Cam Newton's relationship with his former team hit another bump in the road after his latest comments on the "locker room of losers" he arrived to when he first got drafted to Carolina.
Taking to his "Fourth and 1" podcast, Newton addressed the situation. Asking, "When did we become so sensitive? When did we become so sensitive to really speaking what the reality is? A locker room full of losers? Aggressive, but it's true."
"I'm not specifically talking about those guys," Newton said of the players who went 2-14 before he came to the Queen City. "I'm talking about the culture that was there prior to me coming into the locker room — and it was a losers' mentality."
"Is it me saying that, 'Oh when I came, I made everything [better]?' No. I never said that," Cam continued. "What I said was if you're getting drafted No. 1, you're going to a bad football team. That's facts. ... You see what I'm saying? For me, everybody is so taken aback, like, 'Oh, Cam said this.' Bro, it's the truth. It's the truth."
The Panthers have since responded to what the former MVP had to say, as well as his absence from team-sponsored events over the years.
"Cam Newton has been and will continue to be welcomed by the Carolina Panthers," the team said in a statement. "Our doors are open, as they are to all team Legends."
According to reports, its no sure thing that Newton would attend if the franchise were to hold something honoring the 10th anniversary of their 2015 NFC championship-winning team next season.
Ex-coach Ron Rivera has said that he would "love" to see Cam welcomed back. But also admitted that the three-time Pro Bowler would have to be willing to do the things necessary to endear himself to the organization again.
"He knows what he needs to do and I believe he'll do it because I really do think he misses it," Rivera concluded.
