Richard Dent on Cam Newton: Would have tried to ‘knock your a** out of the game’

Even though Mike Ditka thinks the world of Cam Newton, that hasn’t stopped one of the coach’s former players on the 1985 Bears from voicing his displeasure with some of the Carolina Panthers quarterback’s antics.

USA Today caught up with Dent — who went on to the Hall of Fame after a career that included tormenting quarterbacks — and the former Bears defensive lineman shared what he would do to Newton if he was still playing today.

Via USA Today:

It’s disrespect,” Dent, a key member of the 1985 Chicago Bears, told Bell.

Had the two played against each other, Dent would not have reacted kindly to Newton’s antics.

“I’m going to knock your ass out of the game. That would’ve been my approach,” Dent said. “At some point in the game – not with a cheap shot – I’m going to try to get a shot that puts you out for the day. That’s the risk when you want to showboat all the time.”

“His head is so high,” Dent said. “He’s going to have a problem after he’s finished playing – personality-wise – if he doesn’t get to where he wants to be.”

Showboating aside, it’s tough to argue with much of what Newton is doing on the field in 2015. Under former Bears linebacker Ron Rivera, Newton has the Panthers out to a 13-0 start and has established himself as one of the best players in the NFL.