Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton doesn’t enjoy being laughed at. Newton expressed his displeasure at New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan’s taunting gifts of Jordan Winery bottles and broomsticks – supposed gifts of thanks after Jordan’s Saints swept the series against Newton’s Panthers – during his Thursday media availability, while Panthers head coach Ron Rivera described the shipment as “inconsequential“:
Cam Newton said the Saints/Cam Jordan sent him wine and the broom from last year after the Saints swept the Panthers. He said he keeps it in his locker with the wrapper on so he can send it back at the end of the year. Calls on-field relationship “respectful dislike”
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) December 13, 2018
Newton was quick to downplay the Saints’ success in 2018, and even in 2017, when they beat his team three times in one season by a combined score of 96-60. He’s dismissing the notion that the 11-2 Saints are better than his 6-7 Panthers, and implying that this squad is closer to the mediocre 7-9 teams that limped through the mid-2010’s:
“At the end of the day, the Saints of this past year and this year, like, we all know what the Saints used to be, right? So, let’s not forget their real history. So, they got the juice, but at the end of the day, we’re coming Monday with a cup for our own, too.”
It’s clear that the Panthers quarterback is enjoying this rivalry as much as anyone, even if he’d rather hand out defeats than receive them. This week’s upcoming Monday Night Football is shaping up to be a fun one.