Atlanta, Georgia – Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton faced a violent attack during a 7-on-7 football tournament, sparking controversy and criticism from former player Shannon Sharpe.
Newton, who was last with the Carolina Panthers in 2021, was caught on camera in a brawl with several men at the event in Atlanta. The altercation appeared to be an ambush on the 2015 MVP.
Teams from Newton’s football program, C1N, were participating in the tournament, which aims to provide opportunities and guidance to young athletes by focusing on improving football skills and character development.
Sharpe expressed his disapproval of the disrespect shown towards Newton following the incident. He highlighted Newton’s composed response to the attackers, contrasting it with his own reaction in a similar situation.
In a podcast, Sharpe referenced NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, noting the lack of disrespect shown towards them during their camps over the years.
According to reports, the individuals who approached Newton were affiliated with TopShelf Performance, a training facility in Atlanta. The altercation stemmed from a heated game between TopShelf and C1N, which escalated due to trash talk exchanged between the two teams.
Video footage emerged showing a man from TopShelf trash-talking Newton, adding fuel to the fiery confrontation that led to security intervening and dispersing the parties involved. Newton was seen dragging one man away before another threw a punch in his direction, resulting in the removal of all parties from the event.