What was already one of the stranger beefs in the NFL this season took an even weirder turn Wednesday, when 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel got pranked by, um (*checks notes*), a group of kids pretending to be Cam Newton.
Before we get to that, though, let's discuss how this beef began.
Earlier this month, on Newton's "4th and 1" football show, the former NFL MVP went viral for his criticism of Samuel's quarterback, Brock Purdy. "They're not winning because of him," Newton said. "He's managing the game... [Purdy is not] a difference maker... If we're going to really call a spade a spade, a game manager is different than a game changer."
What are your thoughts on Cam Newton?s take of #49ers Brock Purdy being a game-manager? ?
via @4thand1 || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/E5Q3dOOSDs
— ??????????? (@TheSFNiners) December 12, 2023
Samuel didn't take kindly to Newton's criticism of his quarterback, as shown by his comments Wednesday during an appearance on the "Up & Adams Show" with Kay Adams. Samuel said, "First of all, Cam Newton, stop texting my phone, bro. You was a fan like two weeks ago. That's mad crazy. You wanted me on your podcast after talking about my quarterback, which is funny to me."
"Cam Newton, stop texting my phone bro."
Deebo DID NOT hold back on @CameronNewton and @MicahhParsons11 ?@19problemz @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/mfNK29xCf4
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 27, 2023
It didn't take Newton long to clap back at Samuel. Soon after Samuel's "Up & Adams Show" appearance aired, Newton took to social media and addressed Samuel directly: "You must stop the cap, bro. Now, my point is this: you said something like 'Cam, stop calling my phone'... Like, I don't got your number."
The plot thickens, and here's where things took a weird turn. Samuel then pulled out the (alleged) receipts of Newton texting him — which turned out to be a group of random kids who had his number and pretended to be Newton. Although Samuel deleted the initial tweet, the internet keeps all receipts — proving that Samuel got duped by a group of teenagers.
A pretty wild turn of events in the Deebo Samuel vs. Cam Newton beef:
Deebo shows the receipts from Cam Newton...
But it ends up that Deebo got pranked by a group of random kids who had his number pretending to be Cam ?
Deebo has since deleted his tweets. https://t.co/TIUg69cHfl pic.twitter.com/dCowwSrM6q
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 28, 2023
After the prank at his expense got exposed, Samuel once again took to X, posting, "The Fact y'all take this so serious. Not in my feelings I actually think it's funny if you know me!!!"
So although Samuel seems to be taking this "L" in stride, he, Purdy and the rest of 49ers team have a chance to get the last laugh this season by winning the Super Bowl — something Newton was never able to accomplish in his 11-year NFL career.
