It took more than a day, but Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton apologized for insulting a female reporter, saying it was “funny” she’d ask about passing routes.

Newton’s apology came in a 1:47 video he posted on Twitter. He said he realized “after careful thought” that his words were “extremely degrading and disrespectful to women,” and that wasn’t his intention. He said he was sincerely sorry and hoped he could be forgiven.

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“What I did was extremely unacceptable,” Newton said. “I’m a father to two beautiful daughters and at their age I try to instill in them that they can do and be anything they want to be.”

On Wednesday, in response to Charlotte Observer Jourdan Rodrigue’s question about Panthers receiver Devin Funchess being more physical in his routes, Newton smirked and told her it was funny to “hear a female” talking about routes. Newton was heavily criticized. On Thursday, Dannon said it would not use him as a spokesperson for its product anymore.

Newton talked about how he has tried to be a positive role model, and in many ways he has been. His comments to Rodrigue were out of line, and by Thursday night he seemed to grasp that.

“The fact that, during this process I’ve already lost sponsors and countless fans, I realize the joke is really on me,” Newton said.

“Don’t be like me. Be better than me.”

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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