“What the f**k, you’re a professional” - Cam Newton unleashes furious rant against Anthony Richardson’s Week 8 controversy

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton was upset after second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson asked Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen to take him out for one play. The former No. 4 overall pick explained to the media that he was "tired" when he made the unusual request for a healthy quarterback.

His actions and subsequent words didn't sit well with a lot of people and some analysts and former players called him out over that decision. On this week's episode of his "4thand1" show, Newton went in on Richardson, sending a NSFW message to the young playmaker.

“It’s not fair, bro. When I’m looking at a stat line that say you went 10 for 32 for 175 yards, one touchdown and an egregious touchdown. Bro, what the f—k. Bro, you can’t do that. That’s why you see a guy like Lamar Jackson get his flowers.

"Because what he does isn’t easy. You took the easy route out when you tapped your head and said ‘Damn, bro, I’m tired.’ What the f—k, you’re a professional. You don’t get to say that s—t. That’s the easy way.”

The consequences for Richardson's actions haven't stopped coming, and although Shane Steichen insisted that it didn't have anything to do with his antics on Sunday, he was benched for Joe Flacco for Sunday's duel against the Minnesota Vikings.

What was initially seen as a one-week decision has evolved into a rest-of-the-season call for Steichen. On Wednesday, he announced that Flacco would be the starter moving forward, as he gives them the best chance to win right now.

Meanwhile, the trade rumors surrounding the young quarterback started surfacing and they don't seem to be going away anytime soon.

Colts LB has strong reaction to Anthony Richardson's explanation about checking out of Texans game

It's not only former players like Cam Newton picking on Anthony Richardson over this situation. An active player and one of his teammates, Zaire Franklin, revealed on Wednesday that he would have liked to see the young player lie about his reasons for exiting that game.

"I guess where I'm at with it is just, he said, 'You know, I ain't going to lie. I was tired.' Lie n***a, lie please! Help me. Lie like you stole something. This is the dead, honest truth. Because I honestly, I appreciate it because it was respectful to everybody."

The Colts lost to a divisional rival, 23-20, to fall to 4-4 and Richardson's chances to play seem slimmer by the day.