Super Bowl 50 is more than the culmination of the 2015-2016 football season. This year, the contrast between the two teams and, more specifically, the two quarterbacks. Peyton Manning and Cam Newton are about as different as they come. Between their age, race, culture and behavior, the two differ and have uniquely polarized football fans nationwide. For many, it’s hard to crystalize. They see Cam Newton celebrating and dabbing up a storm and they either love it or they hate it and they don’t know why. The difference between Cam Newton and Peyton Manning isn’t so much about race, but more about the conflicting interactions between culture and expectations of what a quarterback should be.
The NFL in 2014 was a majority (~68%) Black. This majority dominated positions like linebacker, corner back, wide receiver, fullback and running back. White players dominated positions including center, kicker, tight end and, of course, the quarterback. The quarterback is the face of the team and we, as football fans, are used to seeing a certain type of face in this position. But more importantly, we, as football fans, are used to the traditional idea of the quarterback. The football purist’s idea of a QB is a strong, humble leader who puts the team personality and the personality of the franchise over his own personality. He’s a classy guy, who celebrates minimally and respectfully and hands the ball to the ref and never refuses a handshake. Sounds like Peyton Manning, right? He’s a pocket passer and a college and pro icon. He’s a traditional idea of how a quarterback can “get it done” without all the flash.
Now let’s talk about Cam Newton and his and his dance moves. No one else in Cam’s position celebrates Black culture like Cam does. His dancing and dabbing and over the top celebrations are more like what we would see in the NBA- not the quarterback of a NFC champions. We like our quarterback to act a certain way. Not necessarily just in the way they play. We expect our wide receivers, for example, to act another way and when our expectations of how players in these positons act aren’t met, we feel uncomfortable. I don’t think it’s the color of his skin. Russel Wilson is another non-white Super Bowl quarterback. He’s a well-liked guy but he also fits into most of the expectations of how a quarterback should act unlike Cam Newton. It’s not so much about race, but more about the expectations of how different positions should act and how we should or should not embrace Black culture. We don’t have a problem with Russel Wilson because he acts like a quarterback is expected to. He doesn’t embrace Black and hip-hop culture the way Cam Newton does. (Have Jeezy and Future been to a Seahawks game? Nah.) We don’t have a problem with how Antonio Brown acts (well I do… but it extends to his whole team… #ravensnation) because he acts how a wide receiver can.
People don’t like Cam Newton because he doesn’t act how a quarterback is supposed to act, embraces black culture differently than anyone else in the NFL and is just so damn good. People label him a classless, cocky showoff but Cam has never been charged with possession of drugs, never had a DUI, never abused or beat up his girlfriend. (Low standards, but you’ve gotta start somewhere.) In comparison, Peyton Manning is being investigated for HGH allegations and was sued while he was at Tennessee for sitting on a female trainer’s face while she was working on his foot. Cam Newton was involved in an eligibility scandal while at Auburn. However, both players now have charities set up for underprivileged youth and do excellent things for their community.
The clash of culture highlights the differences between what older and younger football fans are looking for. Peyton Manning appeals to the older crowd. He embodies the traditional values of a quieter, humble quarterback who can get it done without the flash. Cam, on the other hand, has stepped into the role of a quarterback and has maintained his identity and personality and is so effective and so good even without conforming to what a quarterback is expected to be. Super Bowl 50 could mark a changing of the guard and the beginning of a new era for the NFL. This game is young versus old, flashy versus humble, a first-timer versus a veteran. I’m excited to see how the game will evolve.
But until then I’m gonna hop on that Carolina bandwagon and work on my dab. Happy Super Bowl, Fam.
