I am pretty sure Von Miller and the Broncos defense was the real reason why the Panthers lost, but let’s hear what Fassel had to say.
“All of the numbers pointed to Carolina. And when I saw Cam Newton walk out in gold shoes — ‘MVP’ — I switched my mind, essentially, right then,” Fassel said on Mile High Sports 1340. “I said, ‘That’s not what a starting quarterback, MVP, leading his team — and I had a lot of respect for him during the season — that’s not what happens.’ You don’t do that. And I said, ‘This guy’s already become soft,’ and that’s what he was.”
I understand the premise of what he is saying, but I don’t think Cam was any different last week than he was the previous 18.
He just ran up against a highly motivated and talented defense with an exceptional game plan. Didn’t matter if his cleats were white, gold or platinum, nothing was going to change that.