Felger's post-Super Bowl thoughts: Newton just not ready

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Three post-Super Bowl items for your perusal:

* I came into the game believing Cam Newton was a little bit of a front runner, someone a bit too concerned with his post-TD dance routines. I wasn't sure how he would respond to the big stage. I felt at times he acted like a jerk.

Obviously, his performance on Sunday justified those feelings. More specifically, his actions justified those feelings. Because, unfortunately, that's still a part of his makeup right now as a young professional. Hopefully he grows out of it; maybe he doesn't. I don't know.

The only thing I continue to resent is the folks who try to make that a racial issue, including Newton himself. My feelings had nothing to do with the color of his skin prior to the game, and it's no different today. When Bill Belichick acts like a baby at the podium after a loss, we say it. When Johnny Manziel or Aaron Rodgers perform silly routines, we say it. When Peyton Manning chokes in a big game, we say it. We should be allowed to say the same things about an African American quarterback without being labeled a hater or a racist.

* Here are the list of quarterbacks with more than one Super Bowl title:

Tom Brady

Terry Bradshaw

Joe Montana

Troy Aikman

John Elway

Roger Stauback

Brian Griese

Ben Roethlisberger

Bart Starr

Jim Plunkett

Eli Manning

Peyton Manning


Here is a partial list of one-time winners:


Brett Favre

Aaron Rodgers

Joe Flacco

Kurt Warner

Russell Wilson

Drew Brees

Ken Stabler

Joe Theismann

Len Dawson

Joe Namath


I know you hate Manning. And, yes, Manning was very much a role player in both of his Super Bowl wins (on Sunday night he wasn't just a side car, he was the caboose). But doesn't he make more sense being on that first list instead of the second one? He's better than those one-time winners.

On the other hand, he had all the talent needed to be near Brady at the top of the first list. And, despite winning his second title, a big part of his legacy will still be his postseason failures. He underachieved when it came to titles. Sunday doesn't change that.

* Finally, I thought the play of the game was not Denver's strip sack for a TD in first quarter. Nor Jordan Norwood's Super Bowl record punt return in the second quarter. Nor even Newton's failure to jump on his fumble late in the fourth.

I thought the biggest play was linebacker Danny Trevathan's recovery of T.J. Ward's fumble following Newton's interception in the third quarter.

Had Carolina jumped on that ball, the Panthers would have had first-and-goal at the Denver 7-yard line. A touchdown there would have made it a 16-14 game with around 20 minutes left, and a field goal would have cut the lead to 16-10. Either way, it would have meant momentum for the Panthers. Instead, Trevathan hustled back to give Denver the ball and maintain the two-score lead.

It was the kind of play that Denver repeatedly beat Carolina on all night. Who was going to go down and win the lose ball and who wasn't? Unfortunately, Newton and the Panthers were clearly in the latter category.

E-mail Felger at mfelger@comcastsportsnet.com. Listen to Felger and Mazz weekdays, 2-6 p.m., on 98.5 FM. The simulcast runs daily on Comcast SportsNet.

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