Archie Manning has to be proud of the fact that two of his sons are two-time Super Bowl champions as Peyton went on to win Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton has got criticized massively about how he handled his post game interview after the tough loss, Archie defended Newton’s actions:
Via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer:
It’s really hard, really, really hard. I like Cam. I’m not going to blast Cam. As a parent you say, ‘I wish he’d have handled it a little different.’ But it hurts….
After the Colts lost to New Orleans in the Super Bowl following the 2009 season, Peyton Manning headed off the field without shaking hands with Saints players. Archie Manning said his son texted Saints coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees from the locker room in Miami.
“He did catch flak about it,” the elder Manning recalled. “I don’t think until that game I ever had enough sympathy for the losing team in a Super Bowl. You’re really probably the second-best team out of 32 that year, but you come away from that game and feel like you’re 32nd instead of second.
“I can remember that. I remember how hurt (Peyton) was.”
It’s a hard time, winning the Super Bowl or losing the Super Bowl. Cam, he’ll learn from it.
Archie showed Newton some empathy as he seems to know the experience pretty well after dealing with Peyton after his two Super Bowl losses. While people continue to criticize Newton it’s good to know that somebody understands the situation, instead of just throwing him under the bus.