CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has declined to speak to reporters for the second consecutive day.
Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said Thursday the former league MVP gave no explanation as to why he wouldn’t participate in his weekly news conference prior to Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Drummond was seen speaking to Newton at his locker for several minutes during the team’s open locker room session.
NFL players are subject to fines for not talking to the media.
Newton’s decision comes two weeks after he apologized for comments he said were “extremely degrading and disrespectful to women.” Jourdan Rodrigue, the female reporter from the Charlotte Observer that Newton’s sexist comments were directed at, returned to work this week after taking time off.
When reporters entered the Panthers locker room on Thursday, Newton had the volume so high on a sound system playing music it made it difficult for other players to conduct interviews. He turned the music off after about 15 minutes.
When asked about Newton’s decision to not speak to reporters on Thursday, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said, “I thought he had a press conference today, but apparently not.”
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