Cam Newton blasted struggling Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson on his "4th & 1" podcast, saying he thought the NFL would be easy. Photo Credit: Jake Crandall/USA TODAY NETWORK Photo Credit: Jake Crandall/USA TODAY NETWORK
By Arthur Weinstein on

Cam Newton says Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has only himself to blame for his struggles this season.

The NFL world has been piling on Richardson in recent days, following his decision to leave Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans for one play because he was “tired.”

Many analysts are saying that might endure as a career-defining moment for the young player, who has since been replaced as QB1 by 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco. That questionable “tapping out” decision in Week 8 aside, Richardson has not played up to expectations in 2024.

Newton addressed Richardson’s problems on his 4th & 1 podcast this week and said the young quarterback made a big mistake thinking the transition to the NFL would be easy.

“When I look over the last year or so, when you were taken extremely high, you made certain quotes over this past offseason, saying things like this,” Newton said, cuing a video of Richardson saying, “See, playing in the NFL, I feel like it’s easier than college.”

Newton then played video of Richardson explaining his decision to leave Sunday’s game. Here’s a look back at that moment.


“Bro, you’re in the big leagues now,” Newton said. “A lot of guys are in college and they’re thinking like, ‘Oh man bro, I’m going to dominate.’ No, you just think you’re going to do what Lamar Jackson does, you just think you’re going to do what Peyton Manning and Tom Brady do.

“This s*** ain’t easy. This game is not easy. … I had to have the endurance of a wide receiver. I also had to have the physical attributes of a running back. But I also had to have the mental wherewithal of a quarterback.”

Newton said that Richardson has similar traits, but he’s not using them. He read off Richardson’s poor stat line from Sunday, which included only 10 completions in 32 attempts for 175 yards, a touchdown and one “egregious” interception.

“Bro, egregious,” Newton said of the interception. “Dawg, what the f***? You can’t do that. That’s why you see a guy like Lamar Jackson get the (awards). Because what he does isn’t easy. You took the easy route when you tapped your head and said, ‘Damn bro, I’m tired.'”

Newton was just getting warmed up.

“What the f***? You’re a professional!” he said. “You don’t get to say that s***. That’s the easy way! You don’t get to say that! You don’t get to say playing in the NFL is f****** easy and you’re doing that s*** like that … Your inexperience has shown, and now you’ve been held to that and now you’re on the bench.”

There’s been plenty of speculation this week about Richardson’s future in Indianapolis, but as all the criticism from sports media figures has shown, he’s still got a lot of work to do on his attitude and his game.

[4th & 1 on X]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.

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