Looks like the former NFL star Cam Newton isn’t happy with the top quarterbacks in the MVP conversation this season. To be precise, the former New England Patriots quarterback considers the top quarterbacks as “game managers.”

During his heyday in the league, Newton was known to be among the most explosive quarterbacks. He led his former team Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2015 and won NFL MVP as well. However, for the quarterbacks in the MVP race this season, Newton doesn’t seem quite pleased.

In a recent episode of ‘4th & 1 with Cam Newton,‘ the former NFL quarterback asserted his assessment of the top quarterbacks of this season, mainly Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jared Goff as “game managers.” Interestingly, he also mentioned QBs whom he considers elite such as Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.

Newton specifically mentioned Dallas Cowboys‘ star QB Prescott close to his list of players whom he considers not difference makers.

But Brock, they [San Francisco 49ers] aren’t winning because of him. He’s managing the game. And if we were to put that in it’s own right as game managers, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff, and really, Dak Prescott, these are game managers, they’re not difference makers. 

Cam Newton said in 4th & 1 with Cam Newton

Newton believes players such as Purdy and Prescott aren’t making their teams win. Instead, they are focusing on “not to lose the game” by minimizing the mistakes and managing the game properly, hence the game managers.

Listen, I don’t give a damn what you do, you don’t have to score every time, you just don’t have to throw a pick every time either. If we are really going to call a spade a spade, a game manager is different than a game changer. 

He added further

From having a long shot for the postseason to becoming MVP favorite, Cowboys’ star QB Prescott has come a long way this season. As the final four weeks of the 2023 regular season approached, Prescott surpassed the 49ers’ Purdy for having the shortest odds for the MVP, after defeating the unbeatable Philadelphia Eagles in week 14.

According to ESPN, Prescott currently has the shortest MVP odds of +160, followed by Purdy at +200 and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson at +700. Since the sportsbook opened the MVP odds, this is the first time that the Dallas quarterback has been favored the most for winning the award in 2023. As for the teams, Philadelphia, Dallas and the 49ers, all are with 10-3 standings, competing for the No. 1 NFC seed.

The stats displayed by these top quarterbacks contradicts Newton’s opinion of them being “game manager” instead of game changer. After the three consecutive losses earlier this season, Prescott hasn’t given any opportunity to his critics to slam him, especially when he logged 271 passing yards along with two touchdowns and zero interceptions, against the Eagles making him the frontrunner in the MVP race. On the other hand, there are 49ers QB Purdy who has stepped up in big spots and led his team to victory, which makes him more qualified as a “game changer” rather than a game manager.