Cam Newton is Not Controversial, It's Just Prejudice Showing

Rob Gronkowski likes to point down the field when he catches a first down. He likes to spike the football when he scores a touchdown. He shows his emotions when he plays football. No one considers him controversial for it.

Aaron Rodgers likes to do his "Discount Double-Check" (previously known as "putting on the belt) when he throws a touchdown pass. He's even made commercials about it. He shows his emotions when he plays football. No one considers him controversial for it.

Cam Newton likes to dance when he makes a good play. He dabs, he hands footballs to kids, he does the "Superman." He shows his emotions when he plays football. He's controversial, apparently.

Say what?

Let me be clear- I like Gronk and Rodgers. I also like Cam. I can't find a reason that he's controversial, for the life of me. The only thing I can come up with is race. Is dancing a bad thing? Is having fun a bad thing? Is giving footballs to children a bad thing? Of course not. Yes, college-aged Cam did make some mistakes, but that really shouldn't still be following him around. The only reason I can come up with for people not liking Cam Newton is prejudice.

As we go through this week, it's worth ignoring any discussion of Cam Newton as "controversial." It's not based on anything that exists in reality. This man is one football game away from immortality, from achieving everything a football player can achieve in life. That's what we should discuss this Super Bowl week- not some made up debate about his being controversial.