A elementary school student in Virginia believes the problem with the Carolina Panthers is their most high-profile player.
That high-profile player? Quarterback Cam Newton.
Jeff Atkins, a Ph.D. student in Virginia, posted a letter from his son's elementary school newspaper that featured a letter from a student taking Newton to task.
"My favorite football team is the Carolina Panthers," the student wrote. "I feel that they need a better quarterback. The quarterback is Cam Newton. The team never seems to win and I think he is the reason. He gets intercepted a lot.
"Now I know what you are thinking. What if he does not have the support from his team? What if they are not very good? Maybe ... but, the players on the team are pretty good. I will admit that maybe the team is responsible for some of the losses, but most of the time it is his fault.
"There is a spot for him on the team. That is as a running back. That would probably use his talents better. Now that I think about it ... the Panthers were never a very good team. Maybe he is not the only bad player."
Newton led the Panthers to the NFC South title, despite a 7-8-1 record. Carolina beat Arizona in the NFC wild-card round before losing at Seattle in the divisional playoffs.
Maybe this kid was the same kid who appeared in the NFL's "Play 60" commercial wanting Newton's job.
Taking his shot
Arizona Coach Sean Miller took exception to some fans criticizing his men's basketball team for losing in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.
The Wildcats lost to Wisconsin on Saturday, ending a 34-victory season that included Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles. But that wasn't enough for some fans who expected Arizona to reach its first Final Four since 2001.
Miller posted on Twitter on Monday his support for his program and had a piece of advice for his team's detractors.
"A special thank you to our diehard fans, especially the @ZonaZooOfficial [the school's student section], for your support in all that we do, you are simply the best," Miller tweeted.
"Finally to the people that try to make us feel like our season was a failure. Go cheer for ASU! #BearDown"
The ASU that Miller is referring to would be the Wildcats' biggest rival, Arizona State, just up the road from Tucson in Tempe. For comparison's sake, Arizona State finished 18-16 and lost in the second round of the NIT. The school fired Herb Sendek after nine seasons in Tempe.
They said it
From the satirical sports website sportspickle.com on the Chicago Cubs sending top prospect Kris Bryant to their minor league camp:
"Cubs President Theo Epstein said the decision was a difficult one, but one that was well thought out and included many factors.
"Sending him down was about far more than just Kris," said Epstein. "It's about managing a roster full of players and determining who should be where and when and for how long. Every personnel decision impacts the next. And then there is the overriding tradition and history of Chicago Cubs baseball to keep in mind. We have to be very careful not to throw that all away."
SPORTS QUIZ
What team did Arizona beat to win the 1997 men's basketball national championship?
ANSWER
Kentucky
Sports on 04/01/2015