Cam Newton expresses gratitude after layoff: 'You can't make me hate ESPN'
· Yahoo Sports
Cam Newton was among the many prominent talents laid off from ESPN as part of the company's latest culling of its workforce.
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The former Carolina Panthers star addressed the layoff in a July 22 episode of his "4th&1" podcast.
Newton first hinted about his lay-off in the opening to the show, during which he referenced Ryan Clark – a fellow ESPN employee axed by the network. Then, near the end of the program, the 37-year-old dove deeper into how he felt about being let go from his role as one of Stephen A. Smith's foils on "First Take."
Newton's main takeaway? He's OK with how everything unfolded during this chapter of his career.
"It's unfortunate what happened to me, some would think, but I'm good," Newton said. "'4th&1' ain't going nowhere. Funky Friday ain't going nowhere."
Cam Newton reacts to ESPN layoff
Newton acknowledged he "felt like anybody else would" upon learning he had been laid off.
However, he also made it clear he harbors no ill-will toward his now former employer, and that he values the experience he earned during his time with the network.
"You can't make me hate ESPN," Newton said. "What I've learned, it was an internship almost. The production value. They are the leading sports source for a reason. They have the leading talent not only in front of the camera, but behind the scenes that make sure whether it's a live show or whether it's in studio that they are always on the cutting edge of topics and information and also how it's rolled out."
Newton expressed getting that industry knowledge was particularly important for him, as he didn't get an education in journalism during his college days at Florida, Blinn College and Auburn.
He also expressed gratitude for the for the crew he worked with on "First Take," mentioning Clark and Smith by name, among others.
"I still left with some things that you can't pay for, and that's relationships," Newton said. "That's connections."
Newton did take a moment to lament the cutthroat nature of the sports media landscape, despite his positive thoughts about his time at ESPN. He also said his experience helped lead him to an important conclusion about the industry.
"If this isn't a way for all athletes and even content creators to learn one important rule of the times we live in right now, if you don't own your own platform, you're going to get overlooked, bypassed and extinct like dinosaurs," Newton said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cam Newton expresses gratitude after layoff: 'You can't make me hate ESPN'