Cam Newton Speaks 'Extremely Highly' Of Jerry Richardson, Staying In Charlotte

The Carolina Panthers had one of the most tumultuous weeks of any NFL franchise in recent memory. A bombshell Sports Illustrated piece detailing numerous instances of sexist and racist workplace harassment at the hands of owner Jerry Richardson led to the team announcing he would sell the franchise mere hours later. Somewhere in the middle of all that, the Panthers beat the Green Bay Packers to inch closer to their return to postseason play.

In response, the face of the franchise gave his take on the matte. Quarterback Cam Newton spoke to the media and offered Richardson a modicum of support Wednesday, ABC News reported. Newton said he was “disgruntled” to learn Richardson would sell the team, as Newton valued Richardson’s ownership of the Panthers. Newson also told reporters he is taking the side of “innocent until proven guilty” regarding Richardson’s alleged behavior.

“Nothing was actually proven. It's just another person's word against another person's word. Needless to say, I still think extremely highly of Mr. Richardson,” Newton said. “I take sexual assault extremely serious, and I didn't want to offend anybody by that. Just having a lot of allegations thrown at a person isn't fair.''

Newton said he relates on some level due to the NCAA investigation against him that cast a shadow over his entire 2010 Heisman Trophy run at Auburn. However, he noted that the two situations are different. Or, as he put it, he is not “comparing apples to apples.”

According to Newton, the last several days have been difficult and the chaos to come scares him a bit.

"When you hear a report about Mr. Richardson, a person that we all, as an organization, have so much respect for and the people who did come out saying certain things about racial slurs, sexual assault ... it's still allegations,” Newton said.

Part of the Panthers’ chaotic future is the impending end of the stadium deal that keeps the team in Charlotte, North Carolina through the 2018 season. If no new deal is made between now and then, it would theoretically be possible for whoever owns the team by then to move the Panthers elsewhere. However, Newton does not think that will or should happen, similar to Charlotte mayor Vi Lyles.

"I'm not nervous about it moving. I believe we get the best of both worlds,” Newton said. “We're one of the few sports teams to be represented by two states. I wouldn't see why someone would want to move it.''

Of course, Newton’s comments have not been met with entirely warm reception. On Thursday morning’s episode of “Undisputed,” Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe had some unkind words for the Panthers quarterback.