QB Showdown: Cam Newton and Ryan Clark Spar Over Jalen Hurts’ Ranking

Jalen Hurts is heading into this new season looking to win his second Super Bowl championship after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Throughout the offseason, Hurts has faced criticism, with many arguing that he is not a top-five — and some even saying not a top-ten — quarterback in the league.

Cam Newton recently mentioned on his podcast that, due to the presence of high-level wide receivers and one of the best running backs in the league in Saquon Barkley, Hurts is not required to be otherworldly, just good.

“When you’re throwing to a guy like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, you have a tight end skill set, you have a dominant defense, and the best running back in the game. Download Madden and see how many stars are on the offensive side of Philly,” he explained.

He suggested that Hurts doesn’t have to be elite to win.

The Eagles’ high-level defense also supports that notion. However, Hurts’ performance in last season’s playoffs showed that he can compete with the best in the league. Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens claimed that Cam’s comments sounded like something Skip Bayless would say just to go viral.

Ryan Clark responded to Newton’s statement on ESPN’s “Get Up.”

“Cam Newton is using excuses to not put Jalen Hurts in the top ten,” Clark said. “Excuses are tools of incompetence that build monuments of nothingness, and those who major in their usage are non-achievers. The ring that Jalen Hurts is walking around with says top ten to me — tell Cam to show you his.”

Ryan clark coming with 🔥🔥🔥🔥 this morning

“ The Ring that Jalen Hurts is walking around with, says top 10 to me.. TELL CAM TO SHOW YOU HIS ” #Eagles pic.twitter.com/4kN9U4Umtr

— びⓅ✯Ⓛ✯Ⓜ₃び (@MyAmbition_3) July 21, 2025

These comments rubbed Newton the wrong way, and he responded on his podcast “4th & One,” calling Clark out.

“The messenger, Ryan Clark, let’s pull up your stats, second team all-SEC can’t relate,” Newton said.

“Undrafted in 2002, we cannot relate. Then, you had one Pro Bowl in 2011; we cannot relate. So if you want to unlock Petty Cam and everything that Cam Newton has ever said on this 4th & One show has been backed by merit and logic, but some way shape form people keep attacking Cam the person, or why he didn’t jump on the fumble, or why he didn’t do this, or comparing and contrasting. So when I compare and contrast you guys’ statistics… as we keep going and keep unlocking and keep poking the bear and y’all want to play this game, I can play this game, too.”

This isn’t the first time Newton has spoken out while building his media career — a previous instance saw his comments misconstrued and his attire criticized by ESPN’s Kimberly Martin.

Check out the video of Newton below.

Dan Orlovsky even caught a stray lol pic.twitter.com/hU61WPHGz6 https://t.co/qJ9d62JVaM

— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) July 23, 2025