Ex-Panthers star Steve Smith Sr fires back at Cam Newton over 'locker room of losers' remark

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Former Carolina Panthers star Steve Smith Sr. came to the defense of his former teammates on Tuesday after Cam Newton described the players as "losers" before the quarterback got there.

The Panthers selected Smith in the third round of the 2001 draft. Ten years later, the Panthers found their franchise quarterback in Newton with the No. 1 overall pick. Carolina had been to the playoffs three times, including making a Super Bowl appearance, before Newton was selected.

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Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith, #89, and Cam Newton, #1, share a laugh during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)

Carolina was 2-14 in 2010, which landed the team the No. 1 overall pick. Newton came in and eventually helped improve the team to division winners. They made Super Bowl 50 – only to lose to the Denver Broncos. Smith left the team after the 2013 season.

Newton’s "losers" remark came during an "Overtime" podcast interview when asked what type of pressures Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter may face upon entering the league.

"You could potentially be the first pick, but, bro, you have no way of impacting the game the way a quarterback does," Newton said. "You can lock down the No. 1 receiver. You can make impact plays on offense all you want but it’s still not like a quarterback. My issue is that, when I was the first pick, I went into a locker room of losers. Just honest.

"Guys didn’t know how to win; guys didn’t know how to prepare. They didn’t take themselves serious to