Former San Francisco quarterback and NBC Bay Area sports analyst Jeff Garcia called out New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton for the way he dresses after Newton was benched in the Patriots 33-7 loss to Garcia’s former team, the San Francisco 49ers.
“You get yanked in the second half, there’s nothing good going your way,” Garcia, said. “So why are you dressing like that to bring more attention to yourself? I’d be trying to ask the equipment managers: Put me in your jock sock cart and sneak me in the back door and I’ll show up on the field and do the best that I can.”
Garcia adds that the issues with Newton’s wardrobe dates back to Cam’s time in Carolina with the Panthers.
“It goes back to a couple years of just watching this guy and seeing him at the podium,” Garcia said, “What he’s doing on the field does not translate to being that guy.”
Garcia made the comments during NBC 11’s postgame show and his comments drew criticism from colleagues and members of the National media. Garcia’s co-host Dennis Brown brought up the comparison to Joe Namath who was also known for his flamboyant style and Super Bowl guarantee.
“When you predict you’re going to win a Super Bowl and go out and do it, wear whatever the hell you want,” Garcia answered “But right now I’m not buying it.”
NBC Sports Bay Area may have also had qualms about Garcia’s statements. They originally posted the clip to their official Twitter account but it was later deleted. Instead the clip was posted by The Sporting News reporter Aron Yohannes.
Plenty of other members of the sports media jumped on Garcia as well including ESPN personalities Bomani Jones. and Howard Bryant.
For his part Newton just shrugged off Garcia’s comments, saying in an interview on WEEI’s Greg Hill Show that, “You know what’s crazy? I agree with him. And the fact that he’s a former player, he has every right to say that. And until that happens, so be it. But that’s another opinionated theory, and it’s fair to say. I know I come off to so many different people so many different ways, and that’s fine. You know what, he’s exactly right. But I’m not changing the way I dress. I’m sorry. …
“I don’t know Jeff, but I would say this: I do certain things because of the culture I’m from. And where I’m from — I don’t know where Jeff is from, and I don’t want to harp on it too long — but let’s just say he’s right.”
