On the heels of one of football’s greatest players saying he “would have never played” the game today because of health risks including concussions, Bo Jackson is expressing concern about fellow Auburn alum and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
The 54-year-old Jackson, a former Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Bowl running back for the Los Angeles Raiders and All-Star outfielder for the Kansas City Royals , said he cringes every time the 2015 NFL MVP takes a hit to the head.
“The person I love in the NFL like my own son is Cam Newton. I cuss him out like my own son. But every time he takes a hit to his head, that scares me, it scares the hell out of me,” Jackson told USA Today.
“I witnessed him getting hit hard twice, and both times go to the locker room. I know he can take care of himself, but it still scares me. I care about all of those players playing, I don’t want to see anybody getting hurt. ”
Newton made headlines earlier this season, saying this past October that he “doesn’t even feel safe” at times after taking hits during games. He threw for 3,509 yards with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 15 games this season with the Panthers (6-10).
