NFL veteran Cam Newton isn’t staying silent when it comes to protecting young athletes from potentially damaging narratives—especially when they’re being targeted by controversial former wide receiver Antonio Brown. On his “4th and 1” podcast, Newton took a strong stance in defense of Shilo Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion “Prime” Sanders, after Brown shared old training footage seemingly meant to humiliate the young defensive back.

Antonio Brown posts edited clips, ignites backlash from Cam Newton

The drama began when Antonio Brown posted a video showing Shilo Sanders struggling during a training session with him years ago. Brown, known as much for his erratic behavior as his football career, used the clip to mock Shilo and criticize the Sanders family. In his post, Brown accused Deion Sanders of using him to help his “sorry kids,” referring to both Shilo and Shedeur Sanders.

Newton, however, wasn’t having it. He called out the selective editing of the footage, questioning why only “two clips” from a full workout session were shared. “In defense of Shilo, he’s trying to carve out a place on the team,” Newton said, referencing Shilo’s current battle to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster as an undrafted free agent.

Cam Newton provides crucial context to protect Shilo Sanders’ reputation

Newton revealed that Shilo himself sent the uncut footage to Brown in an attempt to show the full story. According to Newton, the videos depicted a much younger Shilo—possibly still in high school—being put through drills by Antonio Brown, who at the time was one of the NFL’s most dominant receivers.

“He was a youngin’,” Newton emphasized. “And you’re talking about A.B. in his prime going against a teenager? That’s not a fair matchup.”

Perhaps most notably, Newton acknowledged the real-world consequences such footage could have on a player’s future. “The release of that content was not ideal for Shilo’s situation,” he admitted, recognizing how the negative attention could derail a young athlete’s path to a pro career.

Also Read: Shedeur Sanders slips to fourth on Browns depth chart as critics say he’s collapsing under pressure

By providing the full context and speaking up on a public platform, Newton is not just defending Shilo Sanders—he’s drawing a line in the sand against weaponized content and protecting the integrity of young, developing players in the NFL.

Gymnastics legend Simone Biles publicly criticized former NCAA swimmer and conservative commentator Riley Gaines for her relentless campaign against transgender inclusion in women’s sports. The Olympic champion took to social media Friday after Gaines targeted a Minnesota high school softball team that recently secured a state championship, led by a transgender pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger.

Heated war of words erupts between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines over transgender athletes in women’s sports

Riley Gaines, who has built a controversial media presence since tying for fifth place with trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships, quote-tweeted a celebratory post from the Minnesota State High School League. The league had shared a photo of Champlin Park High School’s victorious softball team on X (formerly Twitter), but comments had been disabled. Gaines sarcastically remarked, “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.”

That jab didn’t sit well with Biles.

The seven-time Olympic medalist and longtime advocate for athlete mental health and safety didn’t mince words. “You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,” Biles wrote in a direct quote tweet aimed at Gaines. “Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive or creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Instead… you bully them. One thing’s for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!”

Biles’ message struck a chord with many, reinforcing the stark contrast between the two athletes—not just in terms of achievements but also in how they choose to use their platforms. While Gaines has positioned herself as a central figure in the conservative battle against transgender inclusion, Biles has spent years advocating for safer and more supportive environments in sports, especially for women and marginalized groups.

Riley Gaines didn’t back down. She fired back, calling Biles a “male-apologist at the expense of young girls’ dreams,” and went on to suggest that the gymnastics icon should compete in men’s events if she supports transgender athletes. “Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028,” Gaines quipped.

In another post, Biles added, “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”

“This is actually so disappointing. It’s not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women’s sports with YOUR platform. Men don’t belong in women’s sports and I say that with my full chest,” Gaines responded.

Gaines’ transformation from a competitive swimmer to a full-time activist has been marked by a steady rise in right-wing media circles. Despite achieving only modest success as an athlete, she has testified before Congress, aligned with political figures like Donald Trump, and founded an advocacy center that claims to fight for fairness in women’s sports.

Her rhetoric, however, increasingly targets not just elite trans athletes but also children and teens who participate in girls’ sports. To many observers, this shift has taken her beyond advocacy and into the realm of bullying—a point Biles made loud and clear.

Simone Biles, meanwhile, continues to exemplify what it means to use fame responsibly. Following her headline-making withdrawal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to ‘The Twisties,’ Biles brought much-needed attention to mental health in elite athletics. Her voice carries weight, especially as a survivor of the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal involving Larry Nassar—a trauma she’s used to push for systemic change and accountability.

The clash between Biles and Gaines underscores a larger cultural battle within sports today: one between inclusion and exclusion, between empathy and hostility. Where Gaines seeks to build walls, Biles continues to champion bridges, insisting on compassion and fairness for all athletes, regardless of gender identity.

Meanwhile, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens have officially moved into their stunning $3 million custom-built lakefront mansion in Spring, Texas—a dream home they began building together in early 2023.

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