10/31/2016 3:55 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
EXCLUSIVE
Future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez knows why Cam Newton is targeted by the hardest hitting players in the NFL — ’cause he’s got a big mouth.
After Sunday’s 30-20 win over the Cardinals … the Panthers star QB complained about the refs … saying he didn’t “feel safe” after hits he thought shoulda been flagged … weren’t.
Gonzalez — who took his fair share of big hits during his 17 year career — says Newton makes himself a target because of his cockiness.
“If I were him, I wouldn’t do all that Superman stuff … but that’s his style,” Gonzalez says.
“When you see stuff like that and you’re a player, and you’re going against a guy who’s brass and kinda cocky, you’re gonna want to give him a little extra juice.”
