Cam Newton didn’t hold back while chastising Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who took himself out of Sunday’s loss to the Texans because he said he was “tired.”
During the latest installment of his “4th&1” podcast, Newton, a former NFL MVP quarterback, gave Richardson a lesson in professionalism for taking “the easy way out” — and told the 22-year-old to get his act together and grow up.
Richardson was benched for Joe Flacco, and coach Shane Steichen said it would be that way “going forward,” but did not correlate the move to Richardson subbing himself out of the Colts’ 23-20 loss in Week 8.
Newton played a past clip of Richardson when he said, “Playing in the NFL, I feel like it’s easier than in college,” during a podcast appearance in the offseason.
“You can’t say that and also say [you’re tired] in the press conference [on Sunday],” Newton said. “You’re in the big leagues now, guy. This is the big leagues. A lot of guys are in college and thinking, ‘Oh man, bro, I’m gonna dominate.’
“No, you just think you’re going to do what [Ravens quarterback] Lamar Jackson does?” Newton said before naming quarterback legends, Tom Brady among others. “This s–t ain’t easy. This game ain’t easy, bro.
“… How you play the game is not fair. When I’m looking at a stat line and you 10-for-32 with 175 yards, one touchdown and an egregious interception … dawg, what the f–k. You can’t do that… 45 yards rushing. Get the f–k down.”
Newton emphasized the importance of Richardson getting reps as a young quarterback and explained that he can’t be mad about his benching.
“You gotta suck the f–king s–t up and get prepared to fucking play the next play,” Newton said. “When people make the decision to say we’re going with Joe Flacco, you can’t get made because you didn’t have the awareness or the experience to know what it’s like because these are reps.
“It’s nobody’s job to make sure you’re prepared than you. Signs of being a true professional — you have to be mentally and physically prepared, and this, ladies and gentlemen, Anthony Richardson’s situation embodies both.”
The “4th&1” account posted a clip of Newton’s rant with the caption: “Anthony Richardson… This isn’t College, GET YOUR SH!T TOGETHER.”
During a Friday appearance on ESPN’s “First Take,” Newton doubled down on his comments about Richardson.
“You have now given so many people ammunition to shoot back at you. Don’t do that!” Newton said… You don’t just get to come into a league and take these things for granted. And it comes back to the word, immaturity.
“… Those things are where you get your stripes on the field and for you to tap out with a divisional game like the Texans, no bro. We need you to fight.”
On Wednesday, Steichen said, “This is not just a one-week change,” when he announced Flacco would be the starter moving forward.
“I’m just looking where we’re at as a football team, sitting at .500 with a lot of football left,” he said, adding that he’s not giving up on Richardson.
“He’s a really young player with a ton of talent.”
The Colts face the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota on Sunday.
