WATCH: Newton “disrespectful” to female reporter; has contradictory statement with her about apology

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton has “expressed regret” for his response to a female reporter’s question at a news conference Wednesday, a team spokesman said.

When Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue asked Newton about wide receiver Devin Funchess’ route running, the former league MVP smiled and said, “it’s funny to hear a female talk about routes. It’s funny.”

Here’s the video of Cam Newton saying “it’s funny to hear a female talk about routes” pic.twitter.com/hd9Kg4CCeu

— Carlin & Reese (@CarlinReeseWIP) October 4, 2017

Afterward, Rodrigue tweeted her thoughts, but she put out a statement later that contradicted Newton in relation to his apparent apology to her after the news conference.

I don’t think it’s “funny” to be a female and talk about routes. I think it’s my job.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) October 4, 2017

After Newton’s comments, the quarterback did answer Rodrigue’s question.

Then Newton apparently had a conversation with Rodrigue after the news conference ended and expressed regret for his remarks, Carolina spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Rodrigue, however, published a statement saying that Newton did not apologize when they spoke after the news conference.

“I was dismayed by his response,” Rodrigue wrote in the Charlotte Observer, “which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs. I sought Mr. Newton out as he left the locker room a few minutes later. He did not apologize for his comments.”

Before that statement, Rodrigue did respond to a Tweet asking if anyone confronted Newton about his comments. Rodrigue tweeted:

I spoke with him after and it was worse. I chose not to share, because I have an actual job to do today and one he will not keep me from.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) October 4, 2017

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Wednesday night in a statement that Newton’s comments “are just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists who cover our league. They do not reflect the thinking of the league.”

Drummond said the Panthers “strive as a department to make the environment for media comfortable for everyone covering the team.”

Mike Persinger, the executive sports editor of The Charlotte Observer, said Newton’s comments were “unfortunate and out of line.”

“The question Jourdan asked during the news conference was a good one, like countless other questions about football strategy and nuance she has asked in the course of doing her job,” Persinger said.

Rodrigue joined The Charlotte Observer as a Panthers beat reporter last year.