Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers quarterback who led them for nearly a decade before retiring due to injury, has set his sights on another challenger – former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe of podcast fame (currently). Their confrontation has escalated rapidly over recent weeks; and may lead to physical confrontation over time.
Newton declared on his podcast on December 20, that he is prepared to compete against Shannon and Chad Ocho Johnson from NightCap podcast in any arena, be it spades, Uno, rock paper scissors (RPS), 40 yard dash (40yd Dash), flag football pickleball tennis (FPT) video gaming such as Madden 2k Call of Duty even old Grand Theft Auto can all be on the table; also boxing can take place “and I won’t back down”, according to Newton.
The invitation for a multifaceted challenge was thrown during the lead-up to this season’s Super Bowl, igniting speculation about a high-profile showdown. This back-and-forth banter traces its roots to an episode of the NightCap, where the hosts threw open a challenge to take on anyone in sports or games, confident in their victory.
“Cam [Newton], you think you’ve got what it takes in tennis, huh?… And Peggy [Omari Collins], I know you’ve got nothing. Cam, you really don’t want this. In fact, I’m a better quarterback though I played as a receiver,” Ocho taunted.
The lively exchange set the stage for Newton’s fiery retort, though it’s all been in good spirit. The interaction adds another layer to the ongoing playful banter between the podcasts—a camaraderie that has seen its fair share of roasting over the months.
Beyond the playful challenges, there’s serious contemplation about Newton’s potential NFL comeback. Known for his dynamic personality and “Superman” persona, Newton is yet to retire officially. He remains a free agent, openly discussing the reasons why he believes NFL teams are hesitant to sign him.
“Their focus has to be the personality. They want to stay away from a Shedeur Sanders situation,” Newton revealed in his December 10 podcast episode. Nonetheless, Newton remains positive regarding any possible return to professional football inspired by similar career moves by athletes such as Philip Rivers.
Newton stands as one of the greatest quarterbacks in Panthers history and led his team to four playoff appearances and one Super Bowl victory during his time. Since leaving Carolina for Stanford in 2017, however, Newton’s absence has been keenly felt; since his departure the Panthers have struggled to recapture previous postseason success.