Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted his own mugshot Tuesday on Instagram.
The mugshot came from his 2008 arrest for stealing a laptop.
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Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton is completing a career best 62.1 percent of his passes this season. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo
Newton posted the somber side-by-side shots as well as a very long caption. Of course it was written in his personal, ultra hard to read, font.
Tuesday marked nine years since the arrest.
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"I contemplated posting this and even reluctant about it but as I think about my life and the many things I'm thankful for, I want to be an open book so people can hear my testimony and learn from the flaws and mistakes I made on this day 11/21/2008," Newton wrote.
"I was arrested for a stolen laptop and I'm sure you're asking yourself where is he going with this story, but the moral of the story is this...on this date, I thought my life and my career was over and the fact that I had shamed my family with the media coverage surrounding this situation...I vowed to myself on this day [9 years ago] that 'I will be better from this situation.' What you must learn from this story is this: If you live your life listening to what other people are saying what you should do and not your own, shame on you! I can honestly say to you today that no one gave me a chance to succeed down bad in my situation and if I would have listened to those people that said I can't, who knows where I would be today. So I'm extremely thankful for God's mercy, grace, and favor over my life, so if I can do it with my circumstances surely you can do it and be whatever you want to be with hard work and persistence!
Advertisement"Love side note: and people wonder why I play the game the way I do, act the way I act, dress the way I dress and even live the way I live," Newton wrote. "Because in some people's eyes I'm not supposed to be here. But in my eyes, I'm not going to have any regrets with the second chance God has given me."
"'[Ball so hard] I'm shocked too I'm supposed to be locked up too. If you escaped what I've escaped you'd be in Paris getting messed up too.' - Jay-Z."
Newton was initially charged with felony counts of larceny, burglary and obstruction of justice, but the charges were later dropped. He left the University of Florida for Blinn College. He then transferred to Auburn, going on to win the Heisman Trophy and a national title.
The 2015 NFL MVP is completing a career-best 62.1 percent of his passes this season for 2,232 yards, 14 scores and 11 interceptions. He also has 436 rushing yards and four scores on the ground.
