Newton defends post game presser: After receiving criticism for his actions during his press conference after Super Bowl 50, Cam Newton defended himself by saying he is a "sore loser."
"I've been on record to say I'm a sore loser,'' Newton told reporters Tuesday, via ESPN. "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.''
Newton walked out on reporters during his post-game press conference after losing the Super Bowl in ugly fashion to the Denver Broncos, 24-10. The 26-year-old quarterback finished just 18-of-41 for 265 yards, one interception and a meager 55.4 quarterback rating. He took a beating as he was sacked six times by Denver's relentless defense.
Newton added that he has no regrets about his actions during the press conference.
"It happened,'' Newton said. "I didn't want to talk to the media at the time. The truth of the matter is I really still don't want to talk to the media. But at the end of the day, things have to happen.
"I had a lot of time to go back and play everything back. I'm human. I never once said that I was perfect. I never proclaimed that I was perfect, but at the end of the day, people pick and do things of that sort.''
Manziel "hung over" during meeting: The Johnny Manziel circus continued Tuesday when ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Browns quarterback was "heavily hung over on something" during a meeting prior to the team's season finale.
The report comes on the heals of controversy. On Tuesday, the NFL Network reported that the Browns had lied about Manziel's condition during that team meeting, saying that they used concussion symptoms to cover up the fact that the 23-year-old was severely hung over.
The Browns disputed the report and released the following statement:
"Johnny Manziel came to our facility on the morning of December 30th and complained of concussion symptoms," the Browns said. "He was tested by an independent neurologist and entered the league's concussion protocol. He remained in the protocol until January 12th after being cleared by the independent neurologist."
But Schefter's source–a well placed source in the Browns' organization–said that Manziel "looked terrible. He wasn't drunk, but he was heavily hung over on something. There was something going on there."
The quarterback complained about having trouble with light, headaches and nausea to team officials, which led to him being placed on concussion protocol.
"Complaints like headaches, nausea and dizziness are often the first indicators of a concussion and are reported to the team by the player," a source told ESPN. "If any player complains about symptoms, then the medical staff is obligated to to take the player at his word."
Broncos need Manning's decision by March 9: While many are eagerly awaiting Peyton Manning's pending decision to either retire or stay in the NFL, the Broncos have given Manning one month to contemplate his decision while he enjoys the limelight from winning his second Super Bowl ring.
"We're going to enjoy this, let Peyton enjoy this,'' Broncos general manager John Elway said Tuesday, via ESPN. "I'm sure he'll sit down with his family. Eventually we'll talk to him too and go through that. There's no timeline for that right now.''
But the Broncos would like for Manning to decide before March 9–which is when his $19 million base salary for 2016 becomes guaranteed, which would count $21.5 million against the team's salary cap. Because of that, his decision will greatly impact how the Broncos conduct themselves this off season.
Manning and the Broncos worked out a $4 million pay-cut which Manning earned back with wins in both the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl. However, there was no negotiation regarding Manning's 2016 salary.
After Super Bowl 50, Archie Manning told reporters that he believes his son's days in Denver are over and so might be his NFL career.
In the end, it would down to Manning. Many thought that if the Broncos won the Super Bowl that it would be a done deal. But with Manning being the competitor he is, and with the Broncos boasting one of the league's top defenses, perhaps the 39-year-old quarterback would decide to return. The only question would be: Would the Broncos want him back at his current price tag?
Ryan Gerstel (@TheRyanGerstel) is a contributing writer for Eagledelphia.com
