Cam Newton has a deep understanding of success at Auburn, having won the Heisman Trophy and led the Tigers to a national championship in 2010. In his post-football career, he remains active on social media, particularly through his YouTube channel, “4th&1 With Cam Newton,” where he hosts podcasts discussing various football topics.
In a recent episode uploaded on September 12, Newton reacted to footage of himself watching Auburn’s loss to Cal on September 7. A clip from this episode, shared on September 17, features Newton expressing his passionate and frustrated responses to Auburn’s 21-14 defeat. The clip was a reaction to a comment asking if he could help improve quarterback Payton Thorne or find a better option. Newton didn’t limit his critique to just the quarterback position; he started by criticizing Auburn’s defense during a crucial third down.
“Bro, it was third-and-two and the DBs were playing off, allowing a hitch to be completed,” Newton remarked, looking bewildered at his co-host. He continued, questioning how a team could struggle against an opponent that rarely threw the ball beyond 10 yards.
When the discussion turned to quarterback performance, Newton provided a more nuanced analysis. He stated, “It’s either the coach’s fault or the player’s fault—Payton Thorne.” He expressed frustration with the ongoing excuses, saying, “You’ve had a whole recruiting cycle to bring in another quarterback.”
Newton was critical of Thorne’s mechanics in the pocket but emphasized that the coaching staff shares a significant portion of the blame. “It’s the coach’s fault just as much as it is the player’s. More of the coach’s fault because that’s the person you’re putting your job on the line for,” he explained.