NFL notebook: Panthers' Newton makes sexist remark
October 4, 2017
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton made a sexist remark toward a female reporter on Wednesday, saying it was "funny to hear a female" ask a question about route running.
Newton smirked as Jourdan Rodrigue, a reporter for the Charlotte Observer, asked the following question:
"Cam, I know you take a lot of pride in seeing your receivers play well," Rodrigue said. "Devin Funchess has seemed to really embrace the physicality of his routes and getting those extra yards. Does that give you a little bit of enjoyment to see him kind of truck sticking people out there?"
Newton muffled a smile before providing his answer.
"It's funny to hear a female talk about routes like -- it's funny," the 28-year-old Newton said before discussing Funches' development with the team.
Rodrigue did not find the humor in Newton's assessment, as evidenced by her posts on social media.
--Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was back on the practice field with teammates for the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery in January.
Luck's return date is still uncertain, but he was seen throwing passes in front of the media for the first time since Week 17 of last season. The 28-year-old Luck, who already has been ruled out for Sunday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers, acknowledged he is not fully back.
Luck offered no specifics on when he would play in a game this season but said he is "surrounded by really good people" and "very encouraged" with his progress.
--New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was listed as questionable to play in Thursday's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a thigh injury.
Gronkowski was limited in Wednesday's practice after being a full participant in each of the previous two days for New England (2-2). The 28-year-old leads the Patriots in receiving yards (318) to go along with his 20 catches and two touchdowns in four games.
Gronkowski played in all 70 of the team's offensive snaps in a 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. He did not mention an injury when meeting with reporters on Tuesday.
--Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman may be dealing with more than a rib fracture suffered in Monday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Norman also sustained small damage to his lung lining during the 29-20 loss, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
With the Redskins on their bye week, Norman has not been ruled out to return when the team takes the field in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 15, according to the report.
--Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after passing for four touchdowns and running for another score in the 57-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
In his third career NFL start on Sunday, Watson completed 25 of 34 passes for 283 yards, with one interception and a 125.0 passer rating. He also ran for 24 yards on four attempts in setting an NFL record for most total touchdowns by a rookie with five.
The NFL also announced that Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley earned the NFC offensive honor after he recorded 215 yards from scrimmage (121 rushing, 94 receiving) in the 35-30 win against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. He caught a 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
--The New York Jets placed rookie outside linebacker Dylan Donahue on injured reserve with an elbow injury.
Donahue suffered the injury while blocking on a punt return in overtime during the Jets' 23-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The Jets also signed defensive lineman Ed Stinson and outside linebacker Obum Gwacham. The 6-4, 287-pound Stinson appeared in 29 games with the Cardinals over three seasons and totaled 22 tackles while Gwacham played in 10 games and recorded 2.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints in 2015-16.
--The New York Giants promoted center Jon Halapio from their practice squad with Weston Richburg in the concussion protocol.
To make room on the roster, the Giants waived linebacker Deontae Skinner, who was re-signed last week and was inactive in Sunday's 25-23 loss at Tampa Bay.
Halapio was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Giants on Jan. 9. He played in all four preseason games, including a start at left guard in the finale at the New England Patriots, before he was waived on Sept. 2. Halapio was signed to the practice squad the following day.
--The Cleveland Browns signed wide receiver Bryce Treggs off the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad.
To make room on the roster, the Browns waived wide receiver Jordan Leslie with an injury designation. Leslie injured his hamstring against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Treggs is in his second NFL season out of California. Originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Treggs appeared in nine games with the Eagles last year. He registered three receptions for 80 yards and two carries for seven yards.
October 4, 2017
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton made a sexist remark toward a female reporter on Wednesday, saying it was "funny to hear a female" ask a question about route running.
Newton smirked as Jourdan Rodrigue, a reporter for the Charlotte Observer, asked the following question:
"Cam, I know you take a lot of pride in seeing your receivers play well," Rodrigue said. "Devin Funchess has seemed to really embrace the physicality of his routes and getting those extra yards. Does that give you a little bit of enjoyment to see him kind of truck sticking people out there?"
Newton muffled a smile before providing his answer.
"It's funny to hear a female talk about routes like -- it's funny," the 28-year-old Newton said before discussing Funches' development with the team.
Rodrigue did not find the humor in Newton's assessment, as evidenced by her posts on social media.
--Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was back on the practice field with teammates for the first time since undergoing right shoulder surgery in January.
Luck's return date is still uncertain, but he was seen throwing passes in front of the media for the first time since Week 17 of last season. The 28-year-old Luck, who already has been ruled out for Sunday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers, acknowledged he is not fully back.
Luck offered no specifics on when he would play in a game this season but said he is "surrounded by really good people" and "very encouraged" with his progress.
--New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was listed as questionable to play in Thursday's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a thigh injury.
Gronkowski was limited in Wednesday's practice after being a full participant in each of the previous two days for New England (2-2). The 28-year-old leads the Patriots in receiving yards (318) to go along with his 20 catches and two touchdowns in four games.
Gronkowski played in all 70 of the team's offensive snaps in a 33-30 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. He did not mention an injury when meeting with reporters on Tuesday.
--Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman may be dealing with more than a rib fracture suffered in Monday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Norman also sustained small damage to his lung lining during the 29-20 loss, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
With the Redskins on their bye week, Norman has not been ruled out to return when the team takes the field in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 15, according to the report.
--Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after passing for four touchdowns and running for another score in the 57-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
In his third career NFL start on Sunday, Watson completed 25 of 34 passes for 283 yards, with one interception and a 125.0 passer rating. He also ran for 24 yards on four attempts in setting an NFL record for most total touchdowns by a rookie with five.
The NFL also announced that Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley earned the NFC offensive honor after he recorded 215 yards from scrimmage (121 rushing, 94 receiving) in the 35-30 win against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. He caught a 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
--The New York Jets placed rookie outside linebacker Dylan Donahue on injured reserve with an elbow injury.
Donahue suffered the injury while blocking on a punt return in overtime during the Jets' 23-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The Jets also signed defensive lineman Ed Stinson and outside linebacker Obum Gwacham. The 6-4, 287-pound Stinson appeared in 29 games with the Cardinals over three seasons and totaled 22 tackles while Gwacham played in 10 games and recorded 2.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints in 2015-16.
--The New York Giants promoted center Jon Halapio from their practice squad with Weston Richburg in the concussion protocol.
To make room on the roster, the Giants waived linebacker Deontae Skinner, who was re-signed last week and was inactive in Sunday's 25-23 loss at Tampa Bay.
Halapio was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Giants on Jan. 9. He played in all four preseason games, including a start at left guard in the finale at the New England Patriots, before he was waived on Sept. 2. Halapio was signed to the practice squad the following day.
--The Cleveland Browns signed wide receiver Bryce Treggs off the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad.
To make room on the roster, the Browns waived wide receiver Jordan Leslie with an injury designation. Leslie injured his hamstring against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Treggs is in his second NFL season out of California. Originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Treggs appeared in nine games with the Eagles last year. He registered three receptions for 80 yards and two carries for seven yards.
