Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton called out fans Sunday who cheered after Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel left with an injury.
The Browns and Panthers faced each other in Charlotte Sunday afternoon, when Manziel left the game in the second quarter after taking a hard hit from two Panthers defenders. Cleveland said Manziel had a hamstring injury, and he did not return in the second half.
While he was down on the field, cheers could be heard throughout Bank of America Stadium. Newton responded with harsh criticism after the game:
“I was saddened to see the crowd’s response to when he got hurt,” Newton said. “It was classless. Anytime when a person gets hurt you don’t celebrate. I have had that done in my career and it just takes the integrity out of the game.”
“For the crowd to respond in that sort of way — we’re better than that,” Newton said.
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The Panthers won, 17-13.
Brian Hoyer replaced Manziel and went 7-of-13 for 134 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. The Browns briefly took a fourth-quarter lead after an 81-yard pass from Hoyer to Jordan Cameron with 9:59 to go.
Less than three minutes later, Newton led the Panthers on a seven-play, 66-yard drive that ended in a 9-yard Jonathan Steward touchdown run to put Carolina up 17-13.
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