The flashy Panthers' player says being a black quarterback "might scare some people."
Cam Newton is one of the NFL’s most electrifying quarterbacks and has led his Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50.
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Carolina fans love Newton, and the quarterback goes out of his way to make kids feel special during a game by always handing over a ball to a lucky youngster in the stands.
He often celebrates as if he is Clark Kent opening his shirt to reveal a Superman costume.
But he is not universally liked.
Even his hometown Atlanta newspaper paper had this headline. "5 Reasons To Hate Cam” and there's a Facebook page called “I Hate Cam Newton".
Newton says he thinks race plays a factor. "I said it since day one, I am an African-American quarterback and that may scare a lot of people."
CBS Sports Network radio host Craig Carton says "Cam Newton put himself in a bad spot and said something that is ludicrous." He noted other black NFL quaterbacks such as Michael Vick and Randall Cunningham.
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Newton will go up against Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 50.
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