CHARLOTTE – Amid criticism for the way he handled defeat in Super Bowl 50, quarterback Cam Newton spoke to the media extensively at his locker during check-out day Tuesday.
"Obviously, I had a lot of time to think about it. I've seen so much blown out of proportion," Newton said. "But at the end of the day, when you invest so much time and you sacrifice so much and things don't go as planned, emotions take over. That's what happens. As far as trying to be like this person or that person, I heard numerous quotes about, 'What if this person was in that situation? How would he have handled it?' Truth of the matter is I'm not trying to be this person or that person. I've said it since Day One – I am who I am. I know what I'm capable of and I know where I'm going. I don't have to conform to anybody else's wants for me. I'm not that guy, and I'm happy to say that. This league is a great league with our without me. I understand that. I am my own person. I take pride in that, and that's pretty much how I feel.
"I had a lot of time to play everything back, and like I say, I'm human. I never once said that I was perfect. I never proclaimed that I was perfect. People pick and do things of that sort, but the truth of the matter is, who are you to say that your way is right? That's what I don't understand."
On being a sore loser: "I've been on record to say I'm a sore loser. Who likes to lose? You show me a good loser, and I'm going to show you a loser. It's not a popularity contest. I'm here to win football games for this organization, for Mr. Richardson, for my teammates and my fans. They know what's real. I leave everything on the field. I prepare the right way. I have a standard that I set for myself, and I'm not going to bend nor break."
On going after his late fumble: "I didn't get the fumble, but we can play tit-for-tat. I've seen numerous quarterbacks throw interceptions, and their effort afterwards, they don't go. I don't dive on one fumble, because the way my leg was it could have been contorted. You say my effort? I didn't dive down. I fumbled, that's fine. But we didn't lose that game because of that fumble, I can tell you that."
On 2015 success and looking forward:"We had an unbelievable season and we did what a lot of people didn't expect us to do. We've got two losses. Some teams had two losses the first two weeks.
"We will be back, and I mean that. We will be back. I say that with so much emphasis. I know who I am and I'm not about to conform to anybody's expectations, because yours or anybody else's expectations will never exceed mine."
Head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman also shared their take on Newton's postgame reaction.
Said Rivera: "Losing is not an easy thing. He really does not like to lose. I understand who he is. Time will heal it for him. He'll be able to handle it, which he did today.
"That's who he is. He hates to lose, and that's what you love in him. I'd much rather have a guy that hates to lose than a guy that accepts it. The guy that accepts it, you might as well just push him out of your locker room, because you don't want him around. He wants to win, and his teammates know it. He'll do anything he can to win. That's what it's about.
"I'm proud of who he is as a competitor and a football player. Do I wish he handled it better or differently? Yes. But that's who he is, and I understand who the young man is for us.
"I don't think it's fair. People draw a conclusion off a snapshot. Don't take a snapshot – take the whole album. Take time to read the whole book. There's that great saying, 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' This is a young man, I think, that some people are looking at the cover and looking at it the wrong way."
Rivera said he had no issue with the way Newton reacted to his second fumble.
Said Gettleman: "Everybody wants to win. I want players that hate to lose, plain and simple. I want players that I know when the game is over, they are crawling into the locker room and they need help getting their gear off and it's going to take them time to get in the shower and get cleaned up. I want the buses to be late for the airport if we're travelling. Everybody reacts differently, and unfortunately, at the end of the day we didn't get it done."
View photos from Cam Newton's career in Carolina from his rookie year in 2011 through 2019. Newton is Carolina's all-time leader in nearly every quarterback statistical category.
Carolina Panthers celebrate after defeating the Arizona Cardinals to win the NFC Conference Championship
Cam Newton visits various locations around Charlotte during his annual Santa Cam's Surprise Sleigh on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.
Cam Newton runs for a touchdown during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, November 26, 2017.
Cam Newton celebrates a touchdown during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, November 26, 2017.
Cam Newton celebrates after a touchdown during the game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, at Bank of America Stadium.
Cam Newton Carolina Panthers against Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, September 9, 2018.
Christian McCaffrey celebrates a touchdown with Cam Newton against the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, November 25, 2018.
Cam Newton passes the ball against the Seattle Seahawks at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, November 25, 2018.
Cam Newton visits the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club on Marsh Road on November 12, 2018.
Cam Newton and Julius Peppers laugh on the sidelines during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Carolina Panther Cam Newton (1) dives for the end zone against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, November 5, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Cam Newton celebrates a touchdown in the endzone against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Nov 4, 2018.
Cam Newton gives away a football and bracelet to fans during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Cam Newton smiles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, Nov 4, 2018.
Cam Newton looks to pass during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Cam Newton and Thomas Davis travel for their game against Washington on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018.
Cam Newton (1) looks for a fan to give the ball away to after scoring against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, November 5, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Cam Newton leaps in the air as he rushes the ball during the game against the Giants on Sun., Oct. 7, 2018.
Cam Newton scores a touchdown during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
Cam Newton during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 23, 2018.
Cam Newton Carolina Panthers against Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, September 9, 2018.
Steve Smith visits Cam Newton during Panthers practice on Thursday, September 6, 2018.
Cam Newton passes during a game against the New Orleans Saints in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez)
Cam Newton during the Carolina Panthers game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October, 29, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.
Cam Newton Carolina Panthers against Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, September 9, 2018.
Greg Olsen and Cam Newton celebrate a touchdown during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, December 16, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Cam Newton passes against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, December 10, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Cam Newton runs out of the tunnel during pregame against the Green Bay Packers at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, December 16, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Cam Newton and Jonathan Stewart celebrate a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of American Stadium on Sunday, December 10, 2017 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) leaps over center Ryan Kalil (67) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) to score on a 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter during the NFC Championship game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Jan 24, 2016. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 49-15. (Kirby Lee/NFL)
Cam Newton carries the football during a game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football at Bank of America Stadium on Monday, November 13, 2017.
