Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suggested on Wednesday for the first time that race may play a factor in why he’s become a lightning rod for public criticism. ‘‘I’m an African-American quarterback that scares people because they haven’t seen nothing that they can compare me to,’’ said the 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound Newton, who has helped lead the Panthers (17-1) to their first Super Bowl since 2003. The No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Auburn, Newton has his share of detractors who either don’t like how he plays, his celebrations or his abundance of self-confidence. Newton, a leading league MVP candidate who is putting up record-breaking numbers, said he learned a long time ago he can’t please everyone, and needs to be true to his personality. ‘‘People are going to judge, and have opinions on things I don’t have control over,’’ Newton said. Panthers coach Ron Rivera doesn’t believe Newton should have to fight perceptions about race. ‘‘I think he has always strived to have that separation,’’ Rivera said. ‘‘I don’t think he wants to be known as an African-American quarterback; he wants to be known as a quarterback. I think that is what drives him, to be able to transcend those boundaries, which I think is great.’’ . . . Packers coach Mike McCarthy pulled out of his Pro Bowl coaching assignment, saying doctors have advised him not to travel as he battles a stomach illness. The Packers said associate head coach Winston Moss will handle the responsibilities at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu this week, including Sunday’s game . . . 49ers coach Chip Kelly hired Jim O’Neil as his defensive coordinator. O’Neil was the Browns former defensive coordinator. Curtis Modkins was named as offensive coordinator and Derius Swinton II as special teams coordinator . . . The Browns hired Andrew Berry, a three-time All-Ivy League cornerback at Harvard, as its vice president of player personnel . . . Eighth-year referee Clete Blakeman, who needed to redo the coin toss in overtime of the Green Bay-Arizona divisional playoff game when he failed to properly flip the coin, will work his first Super Bowl Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Colleges
UConn AD Manuel a finalist for vacant Michigan position
UConn president Susan Herbst confirmed athletic director Warde Manuel is a finalist for the job at Michigan, his alma mater, and she expects an announcement from that school in days. But two other sources who requested anonymity told the Associated Press Michigan had offered the job to Manuel, who is in the fourth year of a five-year contract at UConn that pays him a base annual salary of $450,000. ‘‘He loves his alma mater, as most of us do, so it’s really a great honor and it is one of the best jobs in college athletics, without question,’’ Herbst said following a school board of trustees meeting, which Manuel also attended. Manuel, 47, who played football at Michigan under legendary coach Bo Schembechler, declined to comment about the potential job, but did talk about his four years in Storrs, which includes six national championships, including dual titles for the men’s and women’s basketball teams in 2014. ‘‘I’m very proud of all that [the student-athletes] have accomplished,’’ he said. ‘‘I think that UConn is going to be successful for many, many decades.’’ . . . Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford said the league had hired longtime on-field official Ted Jackson as its assistant coordinator for football replay who will serve as the ACC’s liaison with all aspects of replay, including year-round training and development . . . Springfield College tabbed Mike Cerasuolo, a 1993 graduate from Northboro, as the school’s football coach. Cerasuolo, the Pride’s 15-year offensive coordinator, replaces Mike DeLong, who retired after 32 years with the Division 3 program.
Basketball
Bulls’ Mirotic to be out eight games with an appendicitis
The Chicago Bulls expect forward Nikola Mirotic to be sidelined eight games until after the All-Star break Feb. 12-14 following surgery to remove his appendix. The team says Mirotic, who did not accompany the team to Los Angeles for the start of a seven-game road trip, was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center . . . San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich will coach the NBA’s West All-Stars, though Golden State has the best record in the conference. The Warriors’ Steve Kerr was ineligible because he coached last year, enabling Popovich to be the West coach for the fourth time.
Miscellany
Olympic ski champ Ligety injures right knee in crash
US Olympic ski champion Ted Ligety, 31, of Utah, tore the ACL in his right knee during a training crash in Germany. Ligety posted a video of his wipeout on Facebook and wrote: “We all know ski racing is a dangerous sport but I always thought I could avoid a season-ender.’’ . . . The Carolina Hurricanes activated goalie Cam Ward (concussion) from injured reserve following Tuesday night’s 5-0 win over Chicago . . . Barney Hall, a legendary voice of NASCAR radio broadcasts for more than five decades, died late Tuesday. He was 83.
