Once voted the greatest athlete of all time, Bo Jackson believes Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is the "most talented football player on the planet." Considering their Auburn connection, that's not a surprising endorsement, but it's notable because of what Jackson said next.

"With him being the leader of his team, I think he should have handled the postgame events (at the Super Bowl) a little better," Jackson said Monday on ESPN's "First Take."

But Jackson, who spent the day in the "ESPN car wash" making appearances on the network's various programs, made it clear his criticism came from a good place.

"We are like a father (and) son. Besides his mom and dad, I think I’m the only person that can call him and rip him a new one and he listens," Jackson said on "Face to Face with Hannah Storm."

Jackson added he hasn't talked to Newton since he moped after losing the Super Bowl. But the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner indicated the next time they do chat, a new one may be ripped, and not just because of that press conference.

When asked if he was OK with Newton's in-game celebrations, Jackson quickly replied:

"No, no. I’m from the old school. If I’m going to celebrate, it’s going to be after the game.

"The way I was taught is that you get to the goal line, you give the ball to the ref and you get back to the sideline and you rest so that you can go back and run it down their throats again. And then when that last second ticks off the clock, you can dance a jig, you can moonwalk across the field, you can do whatever you want. But put a ‘W’ on the board first."

Of course, Newton is likely just paving the way for an incoming wave of players who probably won't just hand the ball to the ref.

"It's just not Cam," Jackson said. "We are dealing with a new generation of athletes, of kids, and that's what they know."

And Bo knows Newton won't shed his detractors anytime soon. Just last summer, while appearing at Newton's charity kickball tournament, Jackson had a go at Newton's "haters."

"Those people that are poking holes in his game, come put on a uniform and try to do what he do. Period. Bottom line,” Jackson said.

"It’s easy to sit there on your sofa and drink a beer and eat peanuts and criticize somebody. Get your lazy ass up and go out there and try to play. End of question. End of story."

Seven months later, the pool of critics is seemingly larger, even though Newton collected an MVP trophy and led his team to the Super Bowl. After all the brushback, Newton claimed he won't change for anyone. But Jackson isn't anyone.

"I actually care about him. I love him and he has some learning to do," he said. "I think with age, comes wisdom and he will learn from his mistakes.

"Cam is still growing up and he will make mistakes down the road, but all in all, he is a very good kid."