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Cam Newton's decision to walk out of his news conference in the aftermath of Carolina Panthers' Super Bowl 50 defeat has come in for criticism, but he has found an unlikely ally in Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris.
The Panthers' excellent offense was stifled by a brilliant Broncos defense as Denver ran out 24-10 winners at Levi's Stadium on Sunday to clinch a third Super Bowl victory.
Newton, the NFL's MVP, was criticised for giving short answers and leaving his news conference swiftly in the aftermath of the defeat.
However, footage emerged in which Harris could be heard making boastful comments about the Broncos' win when Newton was at the podium.
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Harris insists he did not know Newton could hear him, but conceded if the situation was reversed he would have been annoyed as well.
"I had no idea [he could hear me]," Harris told ESPN.
"I don't know why they had us in the same room or anywhere close to where they could hear us.
"I would have been mad, too, if I was Cam, to be able to hear your opponent right behind me talking, I mean nobody wants to hear that so, I think that was a bad set-up.
"But I mean things happen, you've got to deal with it, you've got to approach things as a man. We've been in that situation where we've lost the Super Bowl and you've got be able to take things as they come."
Newton was also backed by Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, who is confident the 26-year-old can rebound from the Super Bowl heartbreak.
"The one thing about Cam that I think a lot of people have to understand is he hates to lose. He really does. And a lot of great ones have that," he told PFT Live.
"Unfortunately, we just didn't win the big one. I think he'll learn and grow from this situation and come back stronger next year."