A video emerged on Sunday capturing a scene where Cam Newton, the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player, seemed to be entangled in a scuffle during a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta.
In the footage, Newton, sporting one of his signature hats, is seen being pushed by three individuals near a set of steps, leading to a sequence of pushing, shoving, and grabbing that progresses towards a fence line.
Lasting under 30 seconds, the altercation is eventually intervened by a police officer and event security at the WeBall Sports x DynastyU 7v7 tournament hosted at B.E.S.T. Academy.
Newton, drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 from Auburn University, is observed in the video not throwing any punches but rather fending off the other men. Although a punch is directed towards Newton, it remains uncertain if it made contact with the former quarterback.
The trigger for the altercation remains ambiguous, but reports from The Athletic suggest it was initiated when Newton was approached by two coaches from TopShelf Performance, a receiver training facility in Atlanta, who then grabbed him. These men were reportedly former coaches of Newton.
Hailing from Atlanta himself, Newton heads C1N, an organization established in 2021 dedicated to honing young athletes’ football skills through avenues like 7-on-7 tournaments, with a focus on fostering both on-field prowess and personal growth, as stated on Newton’s website.
Nehemiah Mitchell, co-founder of We Ball Sports, remarked to The Athletic that all parties involved in the altercation were ejected from the event, including Newton, describing the incident as “just an unfortunate situation.”
Statements from TopShelf Performance trainers/coaches Stephon and TJ Brown emphasized their concern over the incident and denounced violence, asserting it has no place in their community.
Newton’s C1N team, competing nationally, secured victory in the 15-and-under category at the tournament.
Efforts to contact Newton’s representatives on Sunday night proved unsuccessful.
Since 2021, Newton hasn’t played in the NFL following a stint with the Carolina Panthers, the team that initially drafted him. Over his 11-season NFL career, Newton amassed over 32,000 passing yards and 194 touchdowns, while also recording 75 rushing touchdowns during his tenure with the Panthers and the New England Patriots.
