NFL Notes: Cam Newton reflects on Super Bowl, looks forward

The jovial, fun-loving and wide-smiling Cam Newton was nowhere to be found Sunday.

The NFL Most Valuable Player instead took on a serious tone talking about Thursday night’s regular-season opener, a Super Bowl rematch with the Denver Broncos.

“No one likes losing, so I took it extremely personal,” Newton said about the Carolina’s 24-10 loss to the Broncos in the title game.

Newton had a league-high 45 combined touchdowns in a memorable 2015 regular season and added five more in the NFC playoffs. But he never got a chance to “dab” on the game’s biggest stage with running back Jonathan Stewart scoring Carolina’s only touchdown.

Simply put, Denver’s defense dominated.

Newton’s 60 minutes of frustration on the field spilled over to his postgame interview where he answered questions with terse, short answers while slumped behind a podium with a hoodie covering most of his face. After three minutes he abruptly got up and walked off, drawing the ire of some other athletes who criticized his antics.

Later, Newton defended his actions saying “I’ve been on the record saying that I’m a sore loser. Who likes to lose? You show me a good loser and I’m going to show you a loser. It’s not a popularity contest. I am here to win football games.”

Newton has since backed away – at least some – from that stance.

With time to reflect he told Ebony magazine this offseason that he let down friends and family.

He hasn’t talked much about the Super Bowl loss or his postgame press conference since, avoiding most questions related to the game by spinning them toward the upcoming season.

That approach continued on Sunday.

“A lot of people want to make it a rematch. It’s not a rematch,” Newton said. “It’s just our next opponent.”

It’s been seven months now since the devastating defeat, and Panthers coach Ron Rivera believes his quarterback’s mind is in a good place.

“I think his game is right where it needs to be,” Rivera said. “He’s focused in on this game. He’s focused in on the 2016 season. As I told the players, the most important thing we do is get ready for this game.”

Newton wouldn’t say if he’s watched the Super Bowl.

But he believes the Panthers will be better prepared to handle Von Miller and Denver pass rush this time around.

The Broncos sacked Newton six times in the Super Bowl, two of those resulting in turnovers leading to 14 Denver points. Newton finished 18 of 41 for 265 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

“Our preparation will be different, and we will be locked and loaded and ready to go Thursday,” Newton said.

Newton spent much of his offseason adjusting to becoming a father and working on a Nickelodeon TV show for kids called “All In With Cam Newton.”

But escaping the Super Bowl loss wasn’t easy.

When he posted a picture of himself playing water polo with the U.S. national team on his Instagram account this offseason, Miller photo-shopped himself in sacking Newton in the pool. Miller said did it only because he has immense respect for Newton, whom he called “the best player in the league.”

Rivera isn’t thrilled the Panthers open the season on a Thursday night against Miller and company in Denver.

“Defending NFC champs, it would have been nice to open the season at home, but it didn’t happen that way,” Rivera said Sunday.

He knows it will be a huge challenge for his team playing on the road against the team that has a huge ceremony planned to recognize its Super Bowl win. Even Peyton Manning plans be there.

With all of the emotion surrounding the game, Rivera said it will be “interesting to see” how Newton performs.

“He knows this is the big stage,” Rivera said. “It’s probably one of the biggest stages we will be on as a football team. He has an opportunity to play well and go out and show what he’s made of.”

If the sixth-year quarterback views Thursday’s rematch as a revenge game, he’s not saying it.

When asked if beating the Broncos would take the sting out of losing the Super Bowl, Newton simply shook his head.

“No,” he said. “We’d just be 1-0.”

Seahawks claim Smith off waivers

The Seahawks have claimed defensive tackle Garrison Smith off waivers. Seattle did not announce a corresponding move to get Smith on to the 53-man roster.

Smith spent the preseason with San Francisco and played well for the 49ers with 15 tackles and four sacks. He was on the 49ers practice squad but has not appeared in a regular-season game in his two years in the league.

Seattle’s initial 53-man roster Saturday listed four defensive tackles.

The Seahawks also had four players clear waivers and revert to injured reserve: defensive tackle Jordan Hill, linebacker Eric Pinkins, offensive lineman Terry Poole and tight end Joe Sommers.

Watt returns to practice

J.J. Watt passed his physical and will return to practice on Monday, a good sign that he’ll be ready for Houston’s opener against Chicago on Sept. 11.

Watt missed all of training camp and the Texans’ four preseason games after surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back in July. The Texans activated him from the physically unable to perform list on Saturday before Sunday’s announcement that he passed his physical.

Watt, the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in three of the past four seasons, hasn’t missed a game in his five-year career.

The defensive end also sat out the entire preseason in 2012 because of an elbow injury and was able to return for the season opener.

Cowboys sign Sanchez

The Cowboys signed Mark Sanchez and waived Jameill Showers in a swap of backup quarterbacks behind rookie starter Dak Prescott.

Dallas had to make room on the 53-man roster for Sanchez after signing the six-year veteran to a one-year contract. Tony Romo remained on the active roster amid uncertainly on how long he will be out with a broken bone in his back sustained in a preseason game.

If the Cowboys place Romo on the injured reserve-return list, he will miss the first seven games. If not, he can return sooner.

Prescott had a strong start to the preseason after Kellen Moore broke his right ankle in practice at training camp, and the Cowboys ultimately decided to give their fourth-round pick the backup job.

After holding off on adding a veteran following Moore’s injury, the Cowboys knew they would have to add one once Romo got hurt.

Showers is likely headed to the practice squad for the second straight year. He was spotty while playing the entire preseason finale against Houston, hurting his chances of getting claimed by another team.

Tight end Rico Gathers, the former Baylor basketball player trying to make the transition to football, was among seven players added the practice squad.

Defensive end Ryan Russell, receiver Vince Mayle were the second-year players that made it to the practice squad along with four rookies: center Jake Brendel, receiver Andy Jones, linebacker Deon King and tight end Austin Traylor.

Hester signs 1-year deal

The Baltimore Ravens and kick returner Devin Hester have reached agreement on a one-year contract.

Over a 10-year career Hester returned 20 kicks for TDs, the most in NFL history. Selected to four Pro Bowls, the 33-year-old has played in 144 games with Chicago and Atlanta.

The Ravens spent much of the preseason trying to find a punt returner. Michael Campanaro and Kennan Reynolds were among those who took back kicks, with unspectacular results.

Hester scored an NFL-record 14 touchdowns on punt returns. He’s also returned five kickoffs for TDs and scored on a 108-yard missed field-goal attempt.

Originally drafted by Chicago out of Miami of Florida in the second round, Hester was named to the Pro Bowl in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2014.

Also Sunday, the Ravens signed Reynolds and seven other players to the practice squad.

After scoring an NCAA-record 88 rushing touchdowns as Navy’s quarterback, Reynolds was drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 draft by Baltimore. His bid to make the squad as a receiver and punt returner was short-circuited when he was cut on Saturday, but now he can hone his skills while practicing with the team.

Others signed to the practice squad: defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore; linebackers Brennen Beyer and Patrick Onwuassor; running back Stephen Houston; center Matt Skura; offensive tackle Blaine Causell; and tight end Daniel Brown.