Cam Newton fighting mascotCam Newton fighting mascot (Photo via ‘First Take’)

Cam Newton has gone viral for swinging on a mascot during an ESPN segment, which was supposed to be all fun and games, but turned into a scrap once the headgear came off.

‘First Take’ was on the road this Friday, taking the show to Legion Field to preview Saturday’s Alabama State vs. Alabama A&M game.

The former NFL quarterback waited at the finish line while the schools’ mascots raced in a 40-yard dash and was celebrating with the Hornets character, Stinger, when Butch, the Bulldogs mascot, knocked his hat off while trying to join in.

Cam immediately swung on him, and they scrapped for a few seconds before he pushed him off and warned him to stop playing.

“Stop playing with me!” he yelled, forcing an apologetic gesture out of Butch.

Check it out below:

Cam Newton Takes Heat Online After Blowing Up On Mascot

Cam Newton speaking on 'First Take'Cam Newton (Photo via ESPN)

Of course, the whole thing may have been staged, but it doesn’t appear that anyone thinks so. Having managed to piss fans off with his new role at ESPN, Newton got them riled up in the comments with his latest stunt.

“It’s kind of an a$$hole thing to do—run off and go play with him and then be like, “Don’t play with me! Stop playing!” Like…wtf did he expect?” someone asked.

“Lmaooooooo Cam a clown for this. Probably some poor 18yr kid happy to play around with Unc. Come on man,” another user said.


“He can fight a mascot but won’t jump on a ball…..” a fan remarked.

“Cam really out here picking fights with mascots,” said a fourth.

Newton signed an extension with said network earlier this year after joining ‘First Take’ as an analyst in 2024.

His new role has seen him make more appearances while he travels around the country with the crew for special shows.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.


From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.