Newton: I let my fans and family down at Super Bowl

The Panthers were beaten 24-10 by Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in California despite going into the match as favourites after NFL MVP Newton had led them to a 15-1 season.

Despite their confidence going into the game, a brilliant defensive performance from the Broncos, led by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, left Ron Rivera's men frustrated.

Newton's post-match press conference – when he opted to sit with his hood up and provide a few brief answers before storming out - attracted much criticism.

The 26-year-old initially defended his actions and insisted he was proud of being a sore loser, but with time having passed since the February defeat, is now in a more reflective mood.

"The truth is, I represent something way bigger than myself," Newton told Ebony Magazine. "I'm doing it for [my fans and family] and I felt like I let them down.

"I just wasn’t ready to talk. Was I mad? Hell, yeah! But there could have been a better way to control it, and that’s why I think having more time would have helped."

Newton, though, feels the majority of those who have criticised him do not understand the stress involved with playing and losing such a huge global event.

He added: "Who is anyone to tell me, 'man, it's just an interview'. You haven’t been in that situation. You didn’t have millions of people watching you.

"Your heart wasn't pumping [with] the embarrassment or the anxiety of the stress of dealing with that type of game."