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Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton took a vocal approach in complaining about how fans were cheering the injury of Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel in the Panthers contest against the Browns on Sunday.
Manziel went down with a late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. While Manziel was on the ground being tended to by the staff, some of the fans at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Panthers, were cheering.
Cam Newton was highly disappointed with the fans of his team, saying that, “I just think it was classless at that time. Anytime a person is hurt, you don’t celebrate. I’ve had that done in my career. It takes the integrity out of the game.”
Newton has also been on the receiving end of cheers after injuries. Such an incident happened earlier this year in the Louisiana Superdome when Newton went down in a game against the New Orleans Saints.
On the bright side for the Panthers, they did achieve a 17-13 victory over the Browns, helping keep the Panthers firmly in the hunt for the NFC South Playoff Spot. The NFC South has been a very weak division this year, and the results of yesterday’s games ensures that whoever does win the division, either the Falcons or the Panthers, will go into the playoffs despite a losing record on the season.
While the victory is something the Panthers ca be happy about, the attitude the fans displayed toward an injured player is a sad sight to see in the NFL today. No matter who a player is, or whether or not you like them, when somebody is injured it is important remember that the athletes on the field are people too. They have families and this is their livelihood. Whenever a player is injured it is a threat to that livelihood.
When a player gets hurt, no matter if they are a player for your arch-rival, or someone you just don’t like, treat them with the kindness and respect anyone deserves while injured. You never know when it’s going to be a career ender.
