Former NFL star Cam Newton probably did not endear himself to Dallas Cowboys fans with his latest comments on quarterback Dak Prescott.
In a recent episode of “4th & 1 with Cam Newton,” the former MVP shared his assessment of this season’s current crop of top quarterbacks.
Newton differentiated QBs he considers elite, such as Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, from players he called “game managers” such as Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jared Goff. Newton added Prescott’s name to close out his list of players who are “not difference makers.”
“Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jared Goff. And really, Dak Prescott. These are game managers. They’re not difference makers. … If we’re really going to call a spade a spade, a game manager is different from a game changer,” said Newton.
Woah: Cam Newton says Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff are all game managers… 👀
“These are game managers, they are not difference makers.”
(H/T: @TheSFNiners) pic.twitter.com/5BKx8jAsMo
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 13, 2023
Newton explained that players like Purdy and Prescott aren’t tasked with winning games for their respective teams. Teams just need game-manager QBs like them “not to lose the game” and minimize mistakes on their side of the field, he contends.
Fans on X were quick to criticize Newton for calling Prescott a game manager.
Just saw Cam Newton call Dak Prescott a game manager this season I need to get off of tiktok
— Defy (@defytalkcowboys) December 8, 2023
Dak Prescott is 4 thousands yards from passing Cam Newton and he’s in year 8. He missed a year due to an injury. So what is a game manager Cam. You must needed something to talk about so you can get more followers.
— Al Hamilton (@MrKingdomFit) December 13, 2023
Prescott and Purdy are two of the leading candidates for the NFL MVP trophy entering Week 15. Tagovailoa isn’t far behind.
Some question Purdy’s true value to the 49ers given that he has 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan calling the shots from the sideline.
To Purdy’s credit, he’s stepped up in big spots and capitalized on his opportunities under center in San Francisco. But there’s an argument to be made that he does qualify as an excellent game manager more than a game changer.
Prescott, on the other hand, is having a career year with the Cowboys this season. He’s thrown for 3,505 yards with an NFL-best 28 passing touchdowns and just 6 interceptions.
After being labeled as turnover prone last season, Prescott has dropped his interception rate to 1.3% — the lowest since his rookie year. His near-70% completion rate would also be a career high if he keeps it up for the rest of the season.
Claiming that the NFL’s leader in passing touchdowns isn’t a game changer is quite the spicy take from Newton. But controversial comments from the eccentric Newton are hardly a surprise these days.
