Tag: Cam Newton

Danny Wuerffel discusses his foundation, offers advice to future NFL stars

Danny Wuerffel discusses his foundation, offers advice to future NFL stars w/ @EdEastonJr

This week, Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke to retired NFL quarterback and Heisman Award winner Danny Wuerffel.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Wuerffel discussed his inspiration for ‘The Wuerffel Foundation’s The Pickle Bowl: Heisman Edition at Life Time Pickleball NYC gathered past winners for a good cause. He also shared advice to today’s college football stars heading into bowl season and potential careers in the NFL.  

“Well, during COVID, I started playing with my son to have something to do, and I’ve fallen in love with the sport,” Wuerffel explained. “I play a lot and enjoy it, but I’ve also been leveraging this sport of pickleball to support our work at the foundation. This event came together in a really fun way in New York City with the Heisman guys here. So we got a bunch of Heisman guys out playing and having fans jump in and hit some balls with us, and just a really fun, exciting way to gather and celebrate and, you know, raise money for a good cause.”

Wuerffel recruited fellow Heisman award winners Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Eric Crouch, Charlie Ward, and Johnny Rodgers, along with pickleball pros Ryan Sherry and Kate Fahey, for the event. His foundation’s mission is to inspire greater service and unity in communities.

“We’re a very blessed group, and to come back to this group every year to celebrate in New York has been fantastic. And then to add this pickleball event. A lot of the guys play and enjoy it,” said Wuerffel. “So this gives us an opportunity to add one more fun event. We’re grateful to the Heisman Trust for helping support it and making it happen in a lifetime. Just really excited.”

After being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1997, Wuerffel played six years in the league with four teams, including the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins. He shared some advice for the many college players ending their collegiate careers over the next month with hopes of making it to the NFL.

“I mean, enjoy it. It’s a really unique time. Everybody’s usually dreamt their whole life of playing in the NFL, but there’s something special about college.” said Wuerffel. “Enjoy it. Finish strong, and I hope the guys stick and do the bowl games, and we have a great ending to a great college football season.”

The following links provide more information on Pickle Bowl and The Wuerffel Foundation.

Cam Newton attends first Heisman Trophy ceremony since winning award in 2010. Here’s why he was absent and why he returned . . .

Cam Newton made an appearance at the Heisman Trophy ceremony for the first time since his win in 2010. Here’s why he’s been absent and why he returned:

Cam Newton had a pretty good reason not to attend the last 13 Heisman Trophy ceremonies before Saturday night. But he also had a pretty good reason to break that absence and return to the stage he once graced.

The Carolina Panthers legend was in attendance for this year’s presentation of college football’s greatest individual honor. Newton, flanked by his two sons, came back to New York City to support the eventual winner—University of Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

Hunter, like a number of NFLers, was a former pupil of Newton’s. Prior to becoming a transcendent talent at the collegiate level, the two-way terror played for Cam’s 7v7 youth football program as a high schooler.

Supporting Hunter obviously meant quite a bit to Newton—who, of course, won the award himself 14 years ago. The Auburn University star quarterback captured his Heisman in a landslide in 2010, earning 729 of the 883 first-place votes.

Newton, however, was crowned in the midst of some controversy involving his father Cecil. The NCAA, through an investigation completed just days before Cam’s Heisman victory, concluded that Cecil engaged in a pay-for-play scheme with his son’s attempted recruitment to Mississippi State University.

Cecil, as a result, claimed he himself decided not to attend since he may have been a distraction. But Cam, in an episode of his podcast from this past March, said the Heisman Trust asked Cecil not to show—the reasoning behind his long absence.

“But I haven’t been to a Heisman event since I left, and it’s because they told my dad he couldn’t come to the ceremony,” he said. “The biggest moment of my life, the most influential person of my life can’t share the biggest time of my life.

“Going back to that time, you have to be reminded, the NCAA was doing a thorough investigation. ‘Mr. Newton, it’s best if you don’t.’ And my dad is similar to me. Any extracurricular distractions, I don’t want. ‘Son, I’ll be in the hotel room.’ And I just remember like after I won the Heisman, I just kept looking at my mom, and she knew. She was like, ‘Yeah, baby, let’s go to the room.’ I’m that person that my dad is such a strong figure in my life. He sacrificed a lot just so I could play.”

But perhaps all’s well that ends well, at least on this night . . .

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Steelers QB Russell Wilson forces former MVP to eat his words

Russell Wilson proves critics wrong as the Steelers surge to a 10-3 record, solidifying his role in their impressive season.

Sorry, Cam Newton, you were wrong about the Pittsburgh Steelers and Russell Wilson. The former 2015 NFL MVP has transitioned to life after football through analysis on ESPN and his podcast, 4th and 1 with Cam Newton. However, his assertion that the Steelers are pretenders rather than contenders has been thoroughly disproved, as the Black and Gold improved to 10-3 on the season following a Week 14 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

His coldest take of the 2024 NFL season? The belief that the Pittsburgh Steelers were carrying QB Russell Wilson through this incredible start.

Where does one begin to assess how wrong this analysis was? Not only has Wilson achieved the fifth-most wins by a quarterback in his first 13 seasons, but if he hadn’t missed the first six games of 2024, he would be on pace for 4,336 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and an impressive 103.9 passer rating.

It’s safe to say Newton might have been a little envious of Wilson’s career resurgence in 2024, but ‘Mr. Unlimited’ and his remarkable start speak for themselves. Wilson will aim to extend his hot streak against the Eagles in Week 15 on December 15th, at 4:25 PM EST.

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Where will this year’s Iron Bowl be played?

The Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide will meet for the 89th time on Saturday. Which program gets to host the game?

Auburn football will meet up with No. 13 Alabama on Saturday for the 89th playing of the Iron Bowl. Where will the game be played?

The 2024 edition of the Iron Bowl will be played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast live on ABC and also streamed on ESPN+.

Saturday’s game will be just the 13th time that Auburn and Alabama have played the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa, with the Crimson Tide holding a 7-5 record over the Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Auburn won the first-ever Iron Bowl played in Tuscaloosa, 9-0, on Nov. 18, 2000, and went on to win the next three Iron Bowl’s in Tuscaloosa in 2002, 2004, and 2006.

History shifted towards Alabama in 2008 when the Crimson Tide won the Iron Bowl, 36-0, over Auburn in Nick Saban’s first season. Since then, Auburn has won just one game over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the 2010 game known affectionately as “the Cam-Back” after the Tigers erased a 24-0 2nd quarter deficit to win 28-27 behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback [autotag]Cam Newton[/autotag].

Saturday, Auburn will look to win its first Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa since the memorable game in 2010, and hopes to erase a four-game losing skid to the Crimson Tide. For Alabama, they look to win its first Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa without Nick Saban as the program’s head coach.

Auburn faces Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Former MVP believes Russell Wilson is being carried by Steelers

Cam Newton claims Russell Wilson is being carried by the Pittsburgh Steelers, criticizing their wins and their overall contender status.

It appears former MVP Cam Newton isn’t the biggest fan of Steelers QB Russell Wilson. Over the few three weeks, Newton has consistently criticized the Pittsburgh Steelers and labeled the team as closer to pretenders than contenders.

While appearing on ESPN’s First Take, Newton claimed a few weeks ago that the Steelers’ victories over the Raiders, Jets, and Giants didn’t prove enough. His attitude shifted slightly after Pittsburgh’s victories over the Commanders and Ravens, but he recently reverted to his Black and Gold-hating ways.

On a recent episode of his sports talk show, 4th and 1 with Cam Newton, the former MVP started off with a bold statement: “Russell Wilson is being carried by the Pittsburgh Steelers.” Newton continued to criticize Pittsburgh, stating, “They played the Jets, the Giants, a still-on-the-bubble Washington Commanders team, and they played the Ravens. By the way, Chris Boswell kicked all the points.”

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Wilson has the opportunity to silence doubters, including Newton, when he attempts to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a tough road victory against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 1 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Former MVP continues to doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite their dramatic win over the Washington Commanders, Cam Newton continues to doubt Pittsburgh’s legitimacy heading into Week 11.

Sorry, Cam Newton: You were wrong. The 2015 MVP award winner previously questioned the legitimacy of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team headed into a tough road matchup against the Washington Commanders, citing that the Steelers’ recent victories over the New York Giants and New York Jets proved nothing.

However, after Pittsburgh pulled off an impressive 28-27 victory in Washington, improving to 7-2 on the season, Newton refuses to admit he was wrong. In hilarious fashion, Newton is now questioning the Commanders’ legitimacy.

While debating with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take about which scenario holds greater value—Russell Wilson’s resurgence or Lamar Jackson’s third MVP pursuit—Newton had this to say about the Wilson-led Steelers: “Can we get a meaningful win against a quality opponent?”.

Newton acknowledged that Week 11’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens could be the proving ground for Pittsburgh, and for the first time, he’s not wrong.

Fans of the Steel City can excitedly anticipate what is sure to be an outstanding AFC North showdown between the Steelers and Ravens in Week 11, taking place on November 17 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Panthers great Cam Newton starring in ‘toughest’ celebrity reality show

Former Panthers QB Cam Newton will be one of 16 celebrities starring in the latest season of FOX’s ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.’

Carolina Panthers legend Cam Newton has gone to battle on the gridiron plenty of times. But has that prepared him for something a little bit closer to actual warfare?

Newton has been announced as one of 16 celebrities who will star in the upcoming season of FOX’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. The reality series will see its contestants undergo military training to face the “harshest, most grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process,” according to FOX.

This season is set from Wales, England—where celebrities will train against the “harsh reality” of ocean warfare.

Here’s the trailer, which was released on Friday:

Newton is joined by the following celebrities:

  • Nathan Adrian (Olympic swimmer)
  • Stephen Baldwin (actor)
  • Alana Blanchard (pro surfer)
  • Landon Donovan (former pro soccer player)
  • Ali Fedotowsky Manno (reality TV star)
  • Carey Hart (motocross champion)
  • Brody Jenner (reality TV star)
  • Marion Jones (Olympic track and field athlete)
  • Kayla Nicole (model/influencer)
  • Kyla Pratt (actress)
  • Denise Richards (actress)
  • Christy Carlson Romano (actress)
  • Trista Sutter (reality TV star)
  • Golden Tate (former NFL wide receiver)
  • Jordyn Wieber (Olympic gymnast)

The season premiere will air on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

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Cam Newton explains why he believes Panthers are ‘avoiding his legacy’ in emotional video

Cam Newton feels as though the Panthers have been avoiding his legacy. He revealed why in an emotional video from Thursday.

The greatest Carolina Panther of all-time isn’t feeling the love from the Carolina Panthers.

On Thursday’s episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, Cam Newton was asked about the organization’s trip to Munich, Germany from this past weekend. The visit featured a handful of former Panthers players representing the franchise as ambassadors—including Steve Smith Sr., Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly.

That group, however, did not include Newton—who says he was not invited overseas.

A visibly bothered Newton then stated that the Panthers do not have any images of him up at their home of Bank of America Stadium, something he painfully learned while returning to the building for a seven-on-seven tournament last year.

“We went into the Panthers’ facility and . . . you mean to tell me that one of the greatest Panthers to ever play ain’t up nowhere? Nowhere. I’m talkin’ nowhere,” he said. “Who brought it to my attention? My son. So as a man, when you have to explain to your son . . . ‘Daddy, where’s your picture?’

“Then you know what the tour guide person said? ‘Oh, if you go up on the second and third level, Cam’s all over the place. I seen Jake Delhomme. I seen Thomas Davis. I seen Luke Kuechly. I seen Julius Peppers. I seen Steve Smith.

“At this particular point in time, the question was ‘Oh, we don’t know if Cam’s retired yet.’ News flash—I’m never gonna retire. I know I’ve played my last piece of football. It don’t matter to me to officially retire. I’m in a happy place.”

He also claimed that he reached out to the Panthers in the past about doing a live taping of his show involving himself, old teammates and current quarterback Bryce Young—but to no avail.

Newton led the Panthers to three NFC South titles, four playoff appearances and their second-ever Super Bowl appearance. On top of being the franchise’s all-time leading passer, he’s also the only Panther to win Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.

His last down came in 2021.

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Former NFL MVP not sold on Steelers’ playoff aspirations

The Steelers face scrutiny over their playoff legitimacy as critics point to weak competition ahead of a pivotal Week 10 matchup.

Well, it appears not everyone is sold on the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent success. As a matter of fact, former 2019 NFL MVP QB Cam Newton described it as “delusional” to rely on recent games and stats to portray the Steelers as playoff contenders.

Newton, appearing on ESPN’s First Take with Molly Qerim, Stephen A. Smith, and Shannon Sharpe, argued that the best evidence of the Steelers being pretenders rather than contenders lies in their most recent level of competition—the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

Stephen A. was quick to defend his favorite team, pointing out that the offense has consistently struggled for several years. While the level of competition may indeed be lacking, he emphasized that it is promising to see the offense perform well under Russell Wilson.

While it is easy to dismiss the opinion of a former player who has never won a Super Bowl, is Newton correct in his assessment?

Pittsburgh will aim to continue proving their doubters wrong as they begin the toughest second-half stretch in the NFL, starting with the Washington Commanders in Week 10 on November 10 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Cam Newton has challenge for Steelers QB Russell Wilson

Media personality and former All-Pro QB Cam Newton isn’t yet sold on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson.

A new — and likely brief — era started for the Pittsburgh Steelers leading up to Week 7 when Mike Tomlin made the bold decision to start Russell Wilson over Justin Fields.

Under Wilson, the Steelers have defeated two teams with a combined record of four wins. He’ll be tasked with much more than that after the Steelers return from their bye next Sunday.

On Thursday’s “4th&1 Podcast,” media personality and former All-Pro quarterback Cam Newton challenged Wilson with the statement, “All I’m saying is you better win the games that you’re supposed to win.”

Wilson is off to a good start. Was he supposed to defeat the New York Jets? Yes. Was he supposed to defeat the New York Giants? Another yes.

Looking ahead at the schedule, what other “supposed to win” games might those be? Perhaps Washington, perhaps Cleveland.

Newton isn’t yet sold on Wilson, but Steelers Nation is behind him. We trust that Wilson will channel his veteran experience to be the best quarterback he can be for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers must navigate a brutal second-half schedule — one of the toughest in the league — to pose a legit AFC playoff threat. It’ll not only take Wilson playing smart football but the entire team firing on all cylinders.

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