I wanted rid of Newton for a good few years - nothing to do with his skin colour, everything to do with his play on the field. I was accused of being racist (an F150 I believe is the race-baiting term that is used?).
It is what it is.
Moving on from Newton was a business decision. Of course he's offended, he was here 9 years (and earned a good chunk of change in the process!), but that's the nature of the game.