Cam Skattebo still has NFL fans riled up over the fact that he couldn’t recognize some of the best players the game has seen. On a recent appearance on the ‘St. Brown Bros‘ podcast, Skattebo received plenty of online criticism over the fact that he couldn’t recognize former Detroit Lions wide receiver, Calvin Johnson.
The clip got to former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, and it’s not exactly sitting well with the former NFL MVP.
“They not fans of the game,” Newton said on ‘4th&1 With Cam Newton.’
“These kids— they playing video games all day. Have you ever heard of Chad Ochocinco? Have you heard of Terrell Owens? Have you heard of Steve Smith? Have you heard of Prime Time?”
Newton understands the state of the game. When he was coming up, YouTube highlights weren’t relevant the way they are now. Skattebo enters the NFL in a different time, where technology dominates. He might be an NFL player, but knowing the history of the game isn’t exactly a requirement to get into the league.
Newton calls for young players in Skattebo’s position to study the game more, spending 30 minutes to an hour understanding the history better.
The advice for Skattebo comes from a valuable football mind. Newton, a former first-overall pick, lived up to the hype for most of his career.
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Once Newton went under center for the Panthers in 2011, he was one of the most exciting players in the game. During his first season, he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as he dominated on the ground and in the air. By year three, the Panthers found a lot of success with Newton, as he totaled 30 touchdowns on the year, rushing for over 500 yards, and throwing for nearly 3,400 yards.
The ex-QB left the game in 2022. His resume included three Pro Bowl selections, one First-Team All-Pro nod, an Offensive Player of the Year award, and an NFL MVP award in 2015.
Skattebo enters the NFL as a 2025 fourth-round pick. He was taken 105th overall out of Arizona State. This past season, Skattebo appeared in 13 games. He rushed for 1,711 yards, averaging nearly six yards per carry. He also caught 45 passes for over 600 yards. Skattebo finished off his final college season with 34 total touchdowns.
Whether he takes up Newton’s advice to study the history of the game or not, the Giants are optimistic that Skattebo could be a solid young addition to their offense for 2025 and beyond.