Former NFL star quarterback Cam Newton recently made a bold statement on ESPN’s “First Take” when he said he wouldn’t trade his 2015 NFL MVP award for a Super Bowl win. He made the comment in response to a question from Stephen A. Smith, who asked if he would trade the award for a Super Bowl win.
Newton’s surprising response sparked a lively debate, with even Smith expressing surprise and asking if he was truly considering it. However, Newton explained that his decision was rooted in a particular perspective, saying, “Because you have to ask it through this lens. That was a very journalistic viewpoint/vantage point, response Stephen A. I’ll ask you this question, and just to pose this thought: what’s more important, impact or championships?”
Newton drew parallels to other great athletes who didn’t win championships but had significant individual success, such as Allen Iverson, who was known for his intense training and competitive spirit. He also cited several NFL quarterbacks who won the Super Bowl despite not being MVPs, including Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, and Nick Foles.
Newton’s stance on the issue is that the MVP award represents a higher individual achievement, as it recognizes a player’s outstanding performance over the course of a season. He believes that winning a Super Bowl, while a notable achievement, requires a team effort and may not always be a reflection of an individual’s skills.
In the end, Newton’s response is a testament to the debates that continue to rage in the world of sports, with individual achievements versus team success being a central theme. While some may find his stance unpopular, it’s clear that Newton is unapologetic about his position, saying, “I’m not trying to be popularized. But my take is, I’m taking individual success because I did my job. Football is not about one guy trying to do 11 jobs, it’s 11 guys doing one job and if everybody does their job best.”
