SAN JOSE, Calif. — Cam Newton has made no secret of the fact that he’s tired of the daily Super Bowl week ritual of meeting with the media.
But the Carolina Panthers quarterback managed to crack a smile and enjoy the moment when Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. showed up to ask a question.
The reporter, better known as the rapper and actor Snoop Dogg, opened up the media session Thursday with this question: “Cam, is the kid in you outweighing the man in you in this big game you are going to play?”
Newton answered: “I don’t know. I just think that half of me tries to be as professional as possible. But the human in me just wants to take it all in.
“The professional side, you still have to come up with any kind of edge you can. But with all of the festivities and the media, and all of the things leading up to the game, all you see is Panthers and Broncos. So it’s hard not to try and take it all in.”
Snoop also opened the media session with .
Newton, the likely NFL MVP, leads the favored Panthers into Super Bowl 50 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in nearby Santa Clara. He is ready to put his body on the line. In fact, Newton seemed perplexed when asked why he was willing to risk injury by his go-for-broke running style when so many other quarterbacks are taught to avoid hard hits.
“You are more susceptible to injuries inside in the the pocket,” he said. “At the end of the day, we are football players and should be treated as such. For us, making plays, you can’t coach that. So if you have a guy that’s used to having that labeled a playmaker, it’s easier for that guy to thrive if you let him loose. I don’t think that gets mentioned enough.”
Meanwhile, Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive end Jared Allen remain on track to play Sunday. Allen was limited in Wednesday’s practice as he recovers from a broken right foot, but is expected to practice on Thursday. Coach Ron Rivera said he’s easing Allen back.
“Jared’s was really about rest,” Rivera said. “He’s been going full blast since we started, and the doctors wanted to just make sure. So he earned the rest.”
Davis, who suffered a broken forearm in the NFC title game, was a full participant Wednesday. He wore a protective cast over the injury, which required a metal plate with about a dozen screws.
Rivera said Davis will have his arm examined by doctors again on Friday, but the full practice load was a clear indication he will be ready for Sunday.
“When the doctors say he’s 100 percent, I’ll go with it,” Rivera said.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or @psaundersdp
