Cam Newton Calls Colts Signing 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers a ‘Slap in My Face’

NEED TO KNOW

• Former NFL MVP Cam Newton said the Colts signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers felt like "a slap in my face" on the Dec. 11 episode of his podcast
• Newton said he "did not [retire] and will not because of an opportunity like this" during the segment
• Newton questioned why he's held to a different "standard" than others, and asked, "Why are you asking me to do something that everybody else didn’t do?"
  

Cam Newton had a strong reaction to the Indianapolis Colts signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers to their practice squad.

Newton, 36, revealed his thoughts on Rivers' new contract during an episode of his podcast 4th&1 with Cam Newtonreleased on Dec. 11. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback said, "It’s almost like a slap in my face, bro. I’m not even gonna lie."

Newton's co-host Omari "Peggy" Collins suggested that Newton, who never officially retired despite not playing since 2021, didn't make himself "available" to NFL teams or make it known that he was interested in working out for a team.

Newton seemed surprised by that comment, raising his voice to ask, "Did Philip Rivers send any type of signs that he was available?!"

The former quarterback said he's "no sucker" and "no lab rat," and questioned why some people are held to a different "standard" than others. "Why are you asking me to do something that everybody else didn’t do?," he asked.

Newton said he "did not [retire] and will not because of an opportunity like this" to come back and play in the NFL.

When Collins noted that Rivers played for the Colts before, in 2020, Newton said, "I don't give a damn if he was in their family! He's 44 years old bro!"

"Do you see what I'm saying?," Newton continued, "How do people hold Cam Newton to a standard that you're not holding everyone else?"

Newton also joked that Rivers, a father of 10, has "a lot of kids like me."

Newton shares four children with his ex-girlfriend, Kia Proctor — sons Chosen Sebastian, Camidas Swain and Cashmere Saint and daughter Sovereign-Dior Cambella — and helps raise Proctor’s older daughter, Shakira. Newton also shares two children with photographer LaReina Shaw — their son, Caesar and Shaw's older son, Jaden, from a previous relationship.

While Rivers is now on the Colts' practice squad, he still sits behind 23-year-old second-string quarterback Riley Leonard on the starting list, and it is not yet known if he'll play in the Colts' game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Read the original article on People