Cam Newton, the former quarterback for the Panthers, has been making headlines lately after an altercation at a youth 7-on-7 event in Atlanta. Videos online show him being attacked by multiple people, but the 6-foot-5-inch athlete kept his cool, his iconic hat still snugly on his head.

In a recent episode of his podcast 4th and 1, Newton apologized for whatever happened, while at the same time he stayed committed to his mission.

Cam Newton reaffirms his mission

Despite the attention surrounding the incident, Newton remains steadfast in his commitment to the 7-on-7 format. When asked about his continued involvement, Newton expressed unwavering dedication. “Absolutely,” he affirmed. “This is something I’ve been doing for going on 13-14 years, and I enjoy it. It’s my way of giving back.”

For Newton, the allure of 7-on-7 lies not only in the game itself but in the impact it has on aspiring young athletes. “The kids find it amusing and appeasing and wowing to say, ‘Man, I play for Cam Newton’ or ‘I play with Cam Newton’s team’ or ‘We play against Cam Newton,'” he explained. “But that same energy is reciprocated from me… I see so much of me in them.”

Reflecting on his own journey, he said, “This football can take me a lot of places. Just like it took me a lot of places,” he remarked. “Being around the kids… that’s what I enjoy the most. It’s not even the football side of it.” But, early on in the conversation, he also apologized for his behavior.

Newton apologizes for his behavior

Cam Newton opened up about his feelings of disappointment in himself for allowing the situation at the youth 7-on-7 event in Atlanta to escalate. He clarified that he recognized the individuals involved as former coaches under his organization, C1N. “There was a lot of different clips that was going on, ‘Kids jumping on Cam.’ These were coaches. These were grown men. Former coaches,”

Reflecting on the incident, he acknowledged that it could have taken a turn for the worse, whether in terms of injuries sustained or the actions of the coaches involved. “I let my emotions get the best of me, and it should not have been called for,” he admitted. Newton extended apologies to anyone affected, including Steph, TJ, and members of his organization, C1N.

Will he be able to make up for it with his 7-on-7?