Cam Newton just threw the biggest incomplete pass of his life.
Or something to that effect.
During a press conference this afternoon, the Carolina Panthers quarterback was asked a question by Charlotte Observer beat reporter Jourdan Rodrigue about wide receiver Devin Funchess.
She wanted to know Newton"s take on how the University of Michigan product has been embracing the physicality of routes and whether Newton got enjoyment out of that.
Instead, Newton got enjoyment out of the question itself.
Or, to be more sexist and specific, the person asking the question.
"It"s funny to hear a female talk about routes like," he replied, smiling broadly. "It"s funny.""
Thankfully, no one else in the room saw the humor.
Especially not Rodrigue.
"I don"t think it"s "funny" to be a female and talk about routes. I think it"s my job," she later wrote on Twitter.
Did she approach Newton about the diss after the press gathering ended? Yup, and…
"I spoke with him after and it was worse. I chose not to share, because I have an actual job to do today and one he will not keep me from."
The reporter then followed up these Tweets with a more official statement that reads:
"This afternoon, I did my job as an NFL beat writer and asked Cam Newton a question about one of his receivers.
"I was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs.
"I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments."
Yikes.
Newton has been famously prickly with the press in the past, cutting short his Super Bowl 50 post-game press conference after Carolina lost to Denver, for example.
He won the MVP in 2014.
In a statement, meanwhile, the NFL said "the comments are just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists."
Watch Newton laugh at something no one else finds funny below:
