Greg McElroy won a national championship under center at Alabama, but was never able to get anything going in the NFL, and ultimately played in just two games over his three-year career with the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals. However, McElroy has reivented himself as an analyst for the SEC Network, and does a solid job in his new gig.
As a fan of the Carolina Panthers, naturally, McElroy was disappointed about the team’s loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. I’m not sure if it was the Iron Bowl rivalry (Newton went to Auburn) surfacing from his self-conscious, the Panthers fanboy in him talking, or his true feelings, but McElroy absolutely trashed Cam Newton on Tuesday in regards to the play late in the game in which he fumbled and neglected to make an attempt at recovering the ball.
Greg McElroy on Cam Newton.@Finebaum and @mspear96 are LIVE now to discuss. WATCH: https://t.co/VKNQIqK4dd pic.twitter.com/dUXAy8avBR
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 9, 2016
Newton’s been heavily criticized by the NFL’s elite for this play, and he spoke about it on Tuesday himself.
“I didn’t dive down. I fumbled. That’s fine. We didn’t lose that game because of that fumble. I can tell you that.”https://t.co/V7QeEcUq0B
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 10, 2016
Like anything else in sports, the grief Newton’s received for this play has likely been overdone. However, in this industry, perception is reality, and it sure looks like he quit on his team from my view as well.