It's baffling. The dude dances around and is a bit annoying in his over-celebrations (on his own or with his teammates; never directed at the opponents), but a thug?

He doesn't engage in dirty plays. He is not violent on and off the field. He has started a foundation to help disadvantaged youth; he spends a lot of off-field time doing charity; donates money to Charlotte area schools; goes see kids stricken with diseases (sometimes spends five hours per day doing that); gives footballs to kids, and doesn't go around drinking, using drugs, raping or beating women, or carrying guns. In all his post-game interviews he says "it was a team win, I don't deserve any special credit; it's about the team."

In what way, shape, or form, is Cam Newton a thug???

I'm sorry but this can't be anything other than racism. Look at Johnny Manziel. The guys is a mess. However nobody calls him a thug. Aaron Rodgers celebrates ostentatiously. Not a thug. Philip Rivers has a reputation of being a prick on and off the field - nobody calls him a thug.

So why in the hell do people call Newton a thug?

Maybe he was arrested and charged with felony burglary and obstruction of justice a few years back?

Cam purchased in campus a laptop that turned out to be stolen merchandise. It's not that he stole it himself. Then he made the youthful mistake of trying to get rid of the laptop. All charges against Newton were dropped after he completed a court-approved pre-trial diversion program. "I believe that a person should not be thought of as a bad person because of some senseless mistake that they made," said Newton in 2010. "I think every person should have a second chance. If they blow that second chance, so be it for them."

Yep, sounds like a thug to me... NOT!

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines thug as a violent criminal.

Cam committed a youthful mistake and his off-field issues did not carry into his pro career, unlike many others.

The eligibility question was dismissed by the NCAA after extensive investigation - it appeared that Cam was never aware of his father soliciting money from Mississippi St.

Once in the pros, Cam has stayed out of any off-field issues. He's been in the league for five years, and has been a model worker.

I'm quite sure that if white, Cam Newton would NOT be called a thug, for buying a stolen laptop and never repeating the mistake.

I'm sorry but this can't be anything other than racism.

It is. If a black athlete likes to either trash talk or celebrate excessively or has a brash attitude some will label him a thug.

Even though none of those things have anything to do with what a thug actually is.

Look at Johnny Manziel. The guys is a mess. Nobody however calls him a thug.

Thug doesn't fit someone who's a mess like Manziel.

Thug doesn't fit someone who doesn't put the spotlight on himself like Rogers...who still doesn't come close to acting like Cam's celebrating.

Thug doesn't fit someone allegedly acting like a prick like Rivers.

Thug fits someone who steals from others and who's father shows that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

"Thug," to many of the people who now throw that term around as flippantly as they do, is seen as the acceptable way of dropping the n-word without having the fallout that comes from being overt in their motives.

True.

I even saw a post on Yahoo Sports saying "don't support Cam Newton; he is black. Support instead Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, or Tom Brady; they are white."

Two quarterbacks in NFL history have thrown for 3,500 yards, completed 20 touchdown passes and rushed for ten touchdowns in the same season. Cam Newton is both of them. He has played just five years in the league and already he’s the all time leader in rushing TD by a QB. He just finished with a higher passer rating than John Unitas, John Elway or Dan Fouts ever had in a season.

If he wins the Super Bowl this year, and if the almost guaranteed lock he got on the MVP trophy materializes, Cam will have:

A college national championship.
The Heisman.
The MVP award.
The Super Bowl ring.

That's quite an accomplishment.

So, yeah, this generates a lot of jealousy and hatred.

Cam, barred injury, has the potential to become the greatest player ever. Nobody in the league can do what he can, with his 6'6" frame, 250 pounds, increasing pass accuracy, strong arm, running speed and power, and athleticism to leap into the end zone above the defensive line in short-yardage plays. Nobody.

It's a long way to get there and he is still, relatively speaking, in his beginnings, so, anything could happen, stopping him from this accomplishment. I'm talking potential. But if he doesn't get there, it is at least very likely that he'll be in the top 20 or 10 best players of all time, and one day will be in the HoF.

So, the haters will keep hating but Cam will keep collecting records and trophies.

I hope Panthers win the SB. Folks keep saying Peyton should win and Cam has plenty of other chances. How so? Peyton been in NFL 20 years with only ONE ring!! This may be Cam's only chance. No one knows what will happen to the team next year. Just look @ the Seahawks.

Twitter users call everyone everything.
dumb thread.

I'd classify him as a punk.

Manziel could be referred to as a redneck or Hill Billy. White trash or(W)igger if you want to real un PC. Thug could work.

Thats a clown question , BRO.......

Anyone who would use the word Wigger in conversation would also use the N-Word in conversation. Just sayin'.

I'm sorry but this can't be anything other than racism.

You should be sorry. You are hanging on the inappropriate (possibly) use of a word that has nothing to do with race in order to race bait. Contrary to recent assertions, "thug" is not code for the N word. It usually just means that detractors think he's immature and cocky...and they may be right. A QB who celebrates excessively after running for a first down late in a game that his team has well in hand probably need to relax a little.