SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Did Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris' comments prompt Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to abruptly walk away from reporters following Super Bowl 50?

On Sunday after the game, Harris was in an adjacent interview area talking loudly about the Broncos’ game plan in their 24-10 victory at Levi’s Stadium.

His voice could be heard above everyone else's from the Carolina interview area, which was separated from the Broncos’ area by a black curtain.

"Load the box, force y’all to throw the ball. Can you throw the football? That was the game plan," Harris said.

Newton was looking in that direction and appeared to be listening intently to Harris. The newly crowned league MVP finally shook his head as Harris spoke and then walked off.

Whether Harris’ comments pushed Newton into leaving, only the quarterback can say. But even before Harris spoke, Newton had given a string of short answers as he peered out from his black hoodie. Other Carolina players also could hear the comments and still continued to do interviews.

During a pre-taping for NFL Live, which airs at 3 p.m. ET, Harris said he didn't know why the NFL had them so close to each other.

“I would have been mad, too, if I was Cam,” Harris said. “To be able to hear your opponent right behind you talking, nobody wants to hear that. So I think that was a bad setup, but things happen. But you have to deal with it and approach things like a man, and we've been in that situation where we lost a Super Bowl and be able to take things as they come. I'm just happy we were on the good side of things this time.”

Newton obviously was reeling from the loss after leading Carolina to a 17-1 record entering the game. Reporters saw that. So did Newton’s teammates.

"He’s just hurting, man," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "He put in a lot of work. ... Had a heck of a year."