Cam Newton reveals why he had to "check Mike Shula's a**" over Tom Brady, Peyton Manning comparisons

It's a privilege to be compared to the greats at your job/what you're trying to accomplish, but former NFL quarterback Cam Newton wasn't having that in his rookie year.

In his first season in the NFL, Newton said that his former quarterback coach, Mike Shula, compared him to legends Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. This was on seeing the potential his number one overall pick had.

Newton didn't want to be compared to the legends. He simply didn't want to be compared to anyone but himself. On his YouTube channel, 4th&1 with Cam Newton, he opened up about 'checking' Shula by saying he didn't want his coach to draw comparisons between him and other players.

"I had a conversation with my coach, coach (Mike) Shula, an amazing coach. But I had to check his ass early in my rookie season. He would always make comparisons to like ‘Peyton Manning was this. Tom Brady is this, Drew Brees is this. This person is that’. But I'm like, ‘Coach, respectfully I don't want to be them, I want to be me’. So, when you put your foot down and you said no part of me ever wanted to blend in." (22:35 – 23:11)

Both Newton and Shula were brought into Carolina in 2011. Shula was Newton's QB coach for two seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013. He would hold onto that positon until 2017, coaching Newton for seven seasons.

Like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, Cam Newton has earned himself an MVP trophy

Cam Newton during NFL: NOV 18 Panthers at Lions - Source: Getty

Cam Newton was an NFL quarterback from 2011-2021. He was the number one overall pick in the 2011 draft.

Newton played with Carolina until the 2020 season, then signed with the New England Patriots and was their quarterback for the 2020 season, going 7-8 as their starter. A year later, he returned to Carolina, where he would finish his NFL career.

Newton had the best season of his career in 2015. He led the Panthers to a 15-1 regular season record, throwing for 3,873 yards and 35 touchdowns, while adding 636 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He led Carolina to the Super Bowl and was named MVP of the 2015 season.

Cam Newton retired with three Pro Bowls, one All-Pro selection, the 2011 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and NFL MVP in 2015. He's thrown for 32,383 yards and 194 touchdowns in his career. Additionally, he's rushed for 5,628 yards and 75 touchdowns.