In his press conference and with a smirking smile, he mocking a female reporter saying that “its funny to hear a female talk about routes.”
“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes like — it’s funny.” – Cam Newton
Please don’t judge any other NFL players, coachers or other officials by the inappropriate statement made by Panther’s QB Cam Newton. In all my years of working with the New York Jets, in doing actual scouting, working with only men, this was not the norm-and this was in the 1960’s-1980’s. Whether it was Joe Namath, Emerson Boozer, Wesley Walker, Bobby Jackson, Klecko, Gastineau, Coach Walt Michaels and I could go on and on, gender was never an issue with their treatment of my opinions.
I don’t believe in forcing people to apologize because of political correctness, but my issue here is that he is simply wrong. It’s not funny to hear a woman talk about routes. In fact, there are plenty of reporters who have never played football, so if that’s how its judged, then it’s as funny to hear a woman talk about sports as it was to hear Howard Cosell talk sports. It would have been so easy to say he was making a joke that failed but my concern is that is what’s in his heart. We all have a right to our opinion but his dismissive divisive answer was uncalled for. He needs to speak again today and if he feels this way truly, I hope there is an opportunity for him to learn how capable women are. I’m not suggesting all women know football, but neither do men.
I just want to speak up for the thousands of great NFL players, Coaches, and Scouts who were supportive for over the last 40 years of my life in football and so many other women in the football world.
Let’s judge people on a person-by-person basis.
