Cam Newton won a national championship and Heisman Trophy with the Auburn Tigers before the Carolina Panthers made him the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Charlotte, N.C. – Former Carolina star wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. took exception to comments made by ex-teammate Cam Newton, who called the Panthers “losers” before he arrived in 2011 as the franchise's No. 1 overall pick.

Newton, in an appearance on a podcast featuring University of Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter last week leading up to the Super Bowl, spoke about the pressures Hunter might face if he’s selected as the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

After Cam Newton took a shot at the state of Carolina Panthers’ organization before he arrived in 2011, some of his former Panthers’ teammates are shooting back. Appearing on Travis Hunter’s show on Overtime,

Multiple former Carolina Panthers players called out Cam Newton for his critical comments about team that drafted him.

The Carolina Panthers the year before they picked Cam Newton with the first overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft were not a very good football team. They went 2-14 under John Fox and fielded one of the worst offenses you'll see with Jimmy Clausen at the helm.