Newton responds to ‘gang’ picture
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton issued a response Friday to an otherwise mundane Instagram post on Thursday that garnered some backlash and intimations that he was a “thug” or in a gang.
Newton posted a photo of himself with seven of his close friends on a trip they took in May to Mexico for Newton’s birthday. Some of the friends are wearing bandanas on their faces and making hand gestures while Newton has his hands in the form of a ‘W,' which represents his alma mater Westlake High in suburban Atlanta.
The picture gained more than 17,500 likes and nearly 700 comments, some of which hinted at it being a gang picture. On Friday, Newton took to Instagram in an apparent response to the negative comments. He posted a picture taken at his foundation’s annual charity gala this summer with several of the same friends dressed in suits.
“2 pictures. SamepeopleINbothPICTURES. WHATdoYOUsee “OR” WHATdoYOUwantTOsee,” Newton wrote in the caption.
FALCONS
The Atlanta Falcons released quarterbacks Rex Grossman and T.J. Yates, leaving Sean Renfree as the backup to starter Matt Ryan.
The Falcons also released defensive end Cliff Matthews, safety Sean Baker, linebacker Terrell Manning, cornerback Kevin White and offensive linemen Jake Rodgers and Jared Smith.
In another move, the Falcons traded for Titans veteran guard Andy Levitre in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2016 and a conditional pick in a future year. The 6-foot-2, 303-pound Levitre has started all 96 games in his six seasons.
TRADE
Tim Tebow made Matt Barkley expendable. The Philadelphia Eagles traded Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals, clearing a roster spot for Tebow after he won a preseason competition for the No. 3 quarterback job.
Arizona sent a conditional seventh-round draft pick to Philadelphia for Barkley, who has to be on the roster for six games for the Eagles to receive the pick in 2016.
CUTS
▪ The New York Giants released popular punter Steve Weatherford and acquired Brad Wing in a trade with the Steelers.
▪ The San Francisco 49ers have released defensive lineman Darnell Dockett, who missed all of last season in Arizona with a knee injury and sat out Thursday’s exhibition finale with injured ribs. The 34-year-old Dockett has 40 1/2 sacks in 10 seasons.
▪ The Buffalo Bills released Ikemefuna Enemkpali three weeks after acquiring the linebacker who broke the jaw of New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith. Fourth-string quarterback Matt Simms was also cut.