Panthers QB Cam Newton yesterday laughed and said it was "funny to hear a female talk about routes" when asked a question by beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue, according to Scott Fowler of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Newton "punctuated the remark with a couple of exaggerated smiles." Rodrigue, who works for the Observer, following the news conference asked Newton if he "really didn’t think a female could understand routes." Newton indicated that she "wasn’t really seeing specific routes when watching the game, she was just seeing if somebody was open." Rodrigue argued that he "didn’t know what she saw nor how hard she had studied football, and that maybe the two of them needed to have a deeper conversation." Newton admitted that "maybe he should have said it was funny to hear 'reporters' talk about routes and that, if she actually did know about them, then she knew more than most reporters." Then he "gestured toward the locker room, still filled with her colleagues." Rodrigue claims that Newton "did not apologize" for the initial comment (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/4). Charlotte Observer Exec Sports Editor Mike Persinger said Newton's comments were "unfortunate and out of line." Persinger: "The question Jourdan asked during the news conference was a good one, like countless other questions about football strategy and nuance she has asked in the course of doing her job" (ESPN.com, 10/5).
FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE: The OBSERVER's Fowler writes Newton's original comment was "sexist and ill-informed, and the follow-up conversation was no better." The NFL understood all this a "lot more quickly than the Panthers did and put out its own statement condemning Newton’s comments" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/5). SI.com's Jenny Vrentas writes Rodrigue simply was asking Newton to "answer a question about football." Her gender had "nothing to do with the question, and it shouldn’t have had anything to do with the answer." Vrentas: "Nothing about the exchange was funny. The truth is that most women who work in this field ... can share their own stories like this." Newton is the "face of the franchise, and unless they require him to issue a public apology," the Panthers will "appear to condone a role model in his community demeaning women" (SI.com, 10/5). SI.com's Jacob Feldman writes under the header, "No One Is Laughing With You, Cam Newton." None of this makes the NFL, which has "taken years to figure out the best way to talk about, punish, and prevent domestic violence, look good" (SI.com, 10/5). ABC's Paula Faris noted "nearly half of NFL fans are women," and that is perhaps the league's "most important fan base and demographic." Faris: "This is a narrative they don’t need right now” (“GMA,” ABC, 10/5).
NUMBER OF FEMALE REPORTERS GROWING: In N.Y., Benjamin Hoffman writes Newton's behavior yesterday is "hardly new," as he "infamously pouted through his interview session" after the Panthers' loss in Super Bowl 50. However, yesterday's incident comes as women are being "given bigger roles on sports broadcasts." Rodrigue is "one of dozens of female beat reporters and columnists currently covering the NFL" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/5). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab noted what Newton said was "disrespectful to Rodrigue and all women who cover the NFL." He "needs to apologize, and maybe grow up a little" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/4). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted the comment "leaves female reporters everywhere having to defend their knowledge of football, which is something that they really should not have to do" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 10/4). FS1’s Nick Wright said it was the “most intelligent football question” asked at the press conference. FS1’s Cris Carter: “It was pretty ignorant to think that a woman can’t ask a good football question” ("First Things First," FS1, 10/5).
NO PLACE FOR THAT SENTIMENT: USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes Newton's response "was as ignorant as it was sexist." Women have been "involved in sports for decades now, at every level of the game," but they are still "belittled for the questions" they ask. Newton's response to Rodrigue will "no doubt change Thursday, as the Panthers and Newton realize just how bad this all looks and what a terrible message it sends to women -- who make up about half of the NFL’s fan base." He likely will "try to claim he was joking, that he meant no disrespect." But sexism "isn't funny" (USA TODAY, 10/5). ESPN's Scott Van Pelt said, "Any type of comment that implies 'stay in your lane,' be it race or gender or age, is just small and demeaning, and that's how this plays" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/5). FS1’s Shannon Sharpe: "We shouldn't even be discussing this. It should be a non-issue in 2017” ("Undisputed," FS1, 10/5). CBS’ Gayle King said Newton “needs to be reminded that it’s 2017” ("CBS This Morning," 10/5).
TWITTER REAX: ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell wrote what "frustrates" her about Newton's comments is that he is "not joking around with friends, he's being condescending to a reporter doing her job." USA Today's Lindsay Jones: "Oh come on. Welcome to 2017 Cam Newton, women have been covering sports for decades. @JourdanRodrigue deserves better than that." ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson tweeted every female sports reporter has "encountered a neanderthal" like Newton "over the course of her career." Adelson: "They go low. We go high." Fox' Laura Okmin: "Ladies - do not feel forced into defending our sports knowledge. This is on Cam Newton - NOT ON US. Unacceptable in 2017 to go back to this." The Athletic's Chantel Jennings: "Reminder: My female colleagues and I have run the same number of college/NFL routes as most of our male colleagues." ESPN's Rachel Nichols: "That Cam hadn’t bothered to learn the name of the beat reporter covering his team for the past year tells you everything you need to know." NBCSN's Ross Tucker: "Even if Cam did think question was 'funny' for some reason how can he be so unaware to actually say that? It's his 7th year in NFL."
