FOXBOROUGH, Mass. A high school football player seen on Cam Newton on video has apologized to the NFL’s most valuable player after the altercation between them went viral.
An abbreviated portion of the video, in which Newton is repeatedly taunted as a free agent who ‘was on the verge of being poor’, sparked a passionate reaction among Newton’s NFL counterparts. It took place during a 7 to 7 soccer tournament, while Newton coached his longtime team through his charity foundation.
The player, Jseth Owens of Perkiomen Valley High School in Pennsylvania, apologized as part of a written apology on Twitter.
@CameronNewton @barstoolsports @overtime @espn pic.twitter.com/eBTg1tnnzI
– jseth owens (@ jsethowens_5) 22 February 2021
Earlier Sunday, Newton shared an extensive video of the exchange on Instagram with an accompanying message explaining why he wanted to talk to the player’s father.
“People often forget as athletes who are regularly seen on TV – loved by most, hated by some – we are real dads, real friends, real brothers, real boys, real people. With that said, when I attend tournaments across the country with my all-star team, I have given my time, my energy and my expertise to these kids who have been coming into our program for over 11 years, and that is not what people want to hear or even want to see.
“People want to see me argue with another young man and want to see how I ‘get into my feelings.’ But the truth is: I’re influencing children’s lives in a positive way, make no mistake about it, I make kids realize their ‘out’ by using their football talents to take them to the next level and in most cases out. the hood. ‘
The corners of Philadelphia Eagles, Darius Slay, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Leonard Fournette, the defensive end of the New Orleans Saints, Cameron Jordan, the tight end prop of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Eric Ebron and the safety of the Denver Broncos, Justin Simmons, were under NFL- players who tweeted their support to Newton.
Some kids in this generation do not appreciate the fact that professional players take the time to put on a show, and they have the nerves to act like that. Https://t.co/BO2x40H9EA
– Darius Slay (@ bigplay24slay) 21 February 2021
Any young athlete watching this video should please not be this kid; do not miss your chance to learn something from someone who was at the highest level in this sport …. STAY HUMBLE https://t.co/ BCmGPK8w1W
– 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) 21 February 2021
lil boy was talking CRAZY … def should have kicked out the camp … https://t.co/IXYC1a8itg
– Cameron Jordan (@ camjordan94) 21 February 2021
he is not activated on social media, and gives children to say everything with no respect … lol boy got a comb shirt got that I am rich with the feelings of their p #MVPCam (Cam has always been one of my favorites) ✊🏾 https://t.co/Sf4FJpkj3q
– Eric Ebron (@ Ebron85) 21 February 2021
He tried to be funny in front of his friends instead of asking a big person like Cam, how to overcome adversity and be an MVP of a league you have a 1% chance of making. Smh.
ON AN OPPORTUNITY HE SHOULD NOT HAVE ON … to support you ..? https://t.co/RNcBEyyccz
– Justin Simmons (@ jsimms1119) 21 February 2021
Newton, who spent the 2020 season with the Carolina England Panthers after nine seasons with the New England Patriots, is an unlimited free agent. He said on the podcast “I Am Athlete” to be released on Monday that he has no plans to retire.
“Hell no! I can ‘t go out like that,” he said, referring to an up-and-down 2020 season in which the Patriots were 7-9. “I hear all this talk. My pride does not allow me to do that. There are no 32 guys better than me.”