Newton apologizes: 'What I did was extremely unacceptable'

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has broken his silence after comments he made following a female reporter's question Wednesday.

Newton issued a video apology Thursday for saying he thought it was "funny to hear a female talk about routes."

"I understand that my word choice was extremely degrading and disrespectful to women," Newton said. "To be honest, that was not my intention."

"What I did was extremely unacceptable," he added.

Newton faced heavy backlash over the comments, including a sponsor cutting ties with him. Panthers head coach Ron Rivera also called the comments a "mistake."