Updating a story from last week, Carolina QB Cam Newton has declined to continue the back-and-forth barbs between the 49ers and the Panthers over the relative value of passing yards and victories.
"What do you think?" Newton told the Charlotte Observer, when asked if he wanted to respond to recent comments made by Alex Smith and Patrick Willis.
Carolina receiver Steve Smith also offered a "no comment" -- essentially.
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Cams my quarterback. Alex is from the University of Utah, said Smith, a former Ute. I just smile. ... Im learning. You know that old adage, If you dont have anything nice to say, dont say anything at all? Im not going to say anything at all because I dont have anything nice to say.
Meanwhile, here is the background on the story:
Earlier this month, Smith was asked about his relatively low passing-yardage total from the 2011 season.
"I could absolutely care less on yards per game," Smith said. "I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you're losing games in the second half, guess what, you're like the Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That's great. You're not winning, though."
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Panthers linebacker Jon Beason tweeted a response to Smith's comments last Thursday:
Shortly thereafter, Willis responded with a tweet of his own: "Wins are Wins I stand with My Qb Alex Smith and all my teammates. I can't wait for the season."
In case you were wondering, the 49ers and Panthers do not play each other this season.