Cam Newton urges Jalen Hurts to ‘manage his ego’

Like every NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles have their share of faults, but only Cam Newton thinks Jalen Hurts’ ego is the biggest one.

Newton was on ESPN’s Get Up Friday morning to preview Sunday’s AFC and NFC Championship Games. Near the end of the show, Mike Greenberg asked Newton to forecast what’s on the line for Hurts as he leads his Philadelphia Eagles against the Washington Commanders.

Cam Newton on what Jalen Hurts needs to do in the NFC Championship Game.

“Can he manage his ego?” pic.twitter.com/HenvHC4BgK

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“Can he manage his ego?” Newton asked. “And I say that in a way where – I’ve seen the statistic – the Eagles are 4-0 when he throws for 155 yards or less (in the playoffs). His ego will get involved and be like, ‘Nah, I need to throw it. I want to throw it. I’m tired of being compared to just a piece of the puzzle and not the whole board.’

“But he doesn’t need to. You got a Saquon, you got a A.J. Brown, you got a DeVonta…I aways tell my 7 on 7 kids, ‘You don’t have to do nothing special, to be special.’ Play clean football, do what we’re asking you to do, play within yourself, Jalen Hurts.”

Maybe Newton didn’t intend this to be an insult, but it can certainly be perceived as one. Despite being one of the winningest quarterbacks since becoming an NFL starter, Hurts continues to have his abilities questioned. But those questions are never about his ego.

Hurts has routinely touted his desire to put winning before everything. Last week he told The Athletic, “I think you guys need to understand that I don’t play the game for anything other than to win.”

And after Philly’s Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Rams, Hurts said, “I’ve submitted myself to doing whatever it takes to win,” while speaking about his injuries during the postgame press conference.

But even if you haven’t heard him talk about his desire to win, just watch Hurts on the field. There is very little about his game that appears selfish or ego-driven, making Newton’s analysis seem odd.