Newton Positive? Reed's latest article not too convincing to me for some reason

[top dawg]

I am sure I'm probably just looking into the state of the team and conjecturing as to Cam's mindset a little too much. And maybe I am suffering from the disconnect between Cam's in-person demeanor and mere words online. Or maybe Reed shouldn't have entitled his article Panthers' Newton Stays Positive Amid Obstacles when it's difficult to be positive about the season for some of us right now.  Or maybe I am just being too pessimistic, and Cam is just too far removed from the sulking young man---with the towel over his head---on the sidelines who was not used to a losing culture. Perhaps he has found a reason to smile about the season because true Panthers fans all know by now that he does not have a fake smile.

 

We all know this season's struggles, blah blah blah.

 

 Still, the fourth-year quarterback smiles when asked about his year.

“It’s been great,” Newton said. “We’re number one in our division.”

 

 

I mean, what else is he supposed to say? The team is under-performing, and he never would have guessed?  Has he lowered his standards on a subliminal level and gotten used to losing in blowout fashion?  I will say this, he has matured to a point where if he is upset that we'll never know.  His professionalism has been spot-on for one who has had to do so much to lead the team to victory.

But Rivera said the last thing he wants is Newton trying to do too much.

 

“It’s not time for him to carry this team, but rather to lead this team like he’s been doing,” Rivera said. “There are other people that need to step more so than anything. Playmakers have to step up and make plays and we’re not getting enough of them.”

 

Newton Knows that.

 

 

 

Does he?  He is giving the right answer I guess...

 

 

“I’m not saying ‘Give me the ball coach and let me run it because I will do it right,'” Newton said. “I’m not saying that. I can’t do it without the other 10 guys.”

 

 

But then there is this:

 

“Last Sunday was unacceptable,” Newton said. “It’s my job to make plays and make sure that ship is driving straight.”

 

 

Cam has raised his game and trying to guide the ship, but regardless the ship is taking on water. 

 

Basically, Newton's supporting cast is not doing enough, and Cam does have to carry the team more than he should, and though he is saying the right things, he is still feeling the pressure.  I just wonder what's really going on in his mind, particularly because of  a looming contract, tag or free agency off in the distance.

 

 

[TheMaulClaw]

 

I am sure I'm probably just looking into the state of the team and conjecturing as to Cam's mindset a little too much. And maybe I am suffering from the disconnect between Cam's in-person demeanor and mere words online. Or maybe Reed shouldn't have entitled his article Panthers' Newton Stays Positive Amid Obstacles when it's difficult to be positive about the season for some of us right now.  Or maybe I am just being too pessimistic, and Cam is just too far removed from the sulking young man---with the towel over his head---on the sidelines who was not used to a losing culture. Perhaps he has found a reason to smile about the season because true Panthers fans all know by now that he does not have a fake smile.

 

We all know this season's struggles, blah blah blah.

 

 

I mean, what else is he supposed to say? The team is under-performing, and he never would have guessed?  Has he lowered his standards on a subliminal level and gotten used to losing in blowout fashion?  I will say this, he has matured to a point where if he is upset that we'll never know.  His professionalism has been spot-on for one who has had to do so much to lead the team to victory.

 

 

 

Does he?  He is giving the right answer I guess...

 

 

 

 

But then there is this:

 

 

 

Cam has raised his game and trying to guide the ship, but regardless the ship is taking on water. 

 

Basically, Newton's supporting cast is not doing enough, and Cam does have to carry the team more than he should, and though he is saying the right things, he is still feeling the pressure.  I just wonder what's really going on in his mind, particularly because of  a looming contract, tag or free agency off in the distance.

 

 

If he wins the South again....he gets a blank check.

 

I hope he realizes that no matter who signs him, he's not going to have all the weapons he going to want with the kind of payday it'll require to buy his services.

 

[philp]

now this is some news

[Cary Kollins]

Yeah you're reading too much into it.

[fieryprophet]

Why are we so obsessed with reading Cam's mind? And for what it's worth one of the cheeriest Cam pressers I have ever seen was the Wednesday after the Buffalo fiasco. We obliterated the Giants that Sunday.

[Udogg]

If he wins the South again....he gets a blank check.

 

I hope he realizes that no matter who signs him, he's not going to have all the weapons he going to want with the kind of payday it'll require to buy his services.

 

 

Peyton manning does.   He has the Thomas's , welker and a Ware, Von Miller plus a decent defense.  Still making 20 million a year. 

 

People need to stop blaming the QB's for getting paid.  The salary cap is a number a bunch of billionaires made up to keep salaries in check.  People always try to attach salary with desire to win and it's unfair and short sighted.   Even if Cam took below market value, the GM could F#$$ it up and sign the wrong "weapon".  Then Cam is making less than market value and the team still sucks.   He only gets paid what the market dictates.  Top tier QB's make 20+ million a year.   That's the market.

[rayzor]

Yeah you're reading too much into it.

this.

might do you some good to step away for a little while.

[bLACKpANTHER]

once you give up hope of a Superbowl this year- it becomes more fun.. I will consider this season very good if we can hold onto the lead in the NFCS and have another home playoff game.. we should have back to back winning season for the first time in our history.

 

I have just looked at it like this: we aren't going to make any waves in the playoffs, we are a year out of cap hell. Once we have to room Gettleman will find pieces to protect Cam and give him weapons too. This year is just a moment in purgatory

[Nick_81]

once you give up hope of a Superbowl this year- it becomes more fun.. I will consider this season very good if we can hold onto the lead in the NFCS and have another home playoff game.. we should have back to back winning season for the first time in our history.

 

I have just looked at it like this: we aren't going to make any waves in the playoffs, we are a year out of cap hell. Once we have to room Gettleman will find pieces to protect Cam and give him weapons too. This year is just a moment in purgatory

Anything can happen in the playoffs.  Making them is first priority.  After that, you never know what may happen.

[TheMaulClaw]

Peyton manning does.   He has the Thomas's , welker and a Ware, Von Miller plus a decent defense.  Still making 20 million a year. 

 

People need to stop blaming the QB's for getting paid.  The salary cap is a number a bunch of billionaires made up to keep salaries in check.  People always try to attach salary with desire to win and it's unfair and short sighted.   Even if Cam took below market value, the GM could F#$$ it up and sign the wrong "weapon".  Then Cam is making less than market value and the team still sucks.   He only gets paid what the market dictates.  Top tier QB's make 20+ million a year.   That's the market.

 

Denver is a little different.  Peyton walked into a good team.  He makes players around him better.  Welker is a good player but look who has been his qbs.  He didn't blow up when he played in Miami.  He blew up when he played with Brady.  A lot of wr's would look good if they either had Brady or Manning as their QB.  This is the only problem with Cam.  He doesn't really make his teammates that much better yet.  In fact, whenever DA has come into the game there's been hardly 0 drop off in production.  Steve Smtih is a good example.  Compare his numbers this year with Flacco to last year with Newton.  Same thing with Lafell.  Hell, Cotchery had 10 td grabs with Roethlisberger last year.  Now I'm not saying Newton doesn't make us a better team, but the reality is a lot of qbs could have put up the same amount of points this year with our team as he has, barring the Cincy game.

 

The point is, the QB truly has to be elite to earn that kind of contract.  If you give a QB that's just good that same contract then you end up being a perpetual fringe playoff team.  Look at the Falcons.  Look at how the Saints have deteriorated since Brees got that contract.  The same thing will happen to Cincy.  You're starting to see it now with the Seahawks as they prepare to resign Wilson.   The same thing is going to happen to the 49ers as the reality of Kaep's contract start to sink in.  

 

We're in a worse situation then any of those aforementioned teams.  We were cap strapped when we drafted Cam, and we'll be cap strapped when it comes time to negotiate.  Denver had money to play with going into signing Manning.  If we resign Newton with a god awful contract the it will seriously inhibit our ability to put weapons around him primarily because there's not much flexibility even entering into the negotiations.

 

I really wouldn't be surprised to see Cam go somewhere else.  I'll get flamed for this, but the reality is, is that despite how good Cam is we might have a better chance of getting better without him because we can address all of our glaring needs with solid talent. Not saying we would....just seeing how DG might think so.

 

 

 

Cam still has a lot of growing to do.  While he's a great runner, he doesn't have great pocket presence.  He holds the ball to long.  He doesn't work the flats quick enough. 

[CRA]

This is still the best start to a season in his career

[WUnderhill]

“It’s been great,” Newton said. “We’re number one in our division.”

 

This is fake, but I don't blame him. With how the media twists his words and actions, it's understandable if he just tries to say pc bullcrap.

[Car123]

Denver is a little different. Peyton walked into a good team. He makes players around him better. Welker is a good player but look who has been his qbs. He didn't blow up when he played in Miami. He blew up when he played with Brady. A lot of wr's would look good if they either had Brady or Manning as their QB. This is the only problem with Cam. He doesn't really make his teammates that much better yet. In fact, whenever DA has come into the game there's been hardly 0 drop off in production. Steve Smtih is a good example. Compare his numbers this year with Flacco to last year with Newton. Same thing with Lafell. Hell, Cotchery had 10 td grabs with Roethlisberger last year. Now I'm not saying Newton doesn't make us a better team, but the reality is a lot of qbs could have put up the same amount of points this year with our team as he has, barring the Cincy game.

The point is, the QB truly has to be elite to earn that kind of contract. If you give a QB that's just good that same contract then you end up being a perpetual fringe playoff team. Look at the Falcons. Look at how the Saints have deteriorated since Brees got that contract. The same thing will happen to Cincy. You're starting to see it now with the Seahawks as they prepare to resign Wilson. The same thing is going to happen to the 49ers as the reality of Kaep's contract start to sink in.

We're in a worse situation then any of those aforementioned teams. We were cap strapped when we drafted Cam, and we'll be cap strapped when it comes time to negotiate. Denver had money to play with going into signing Manning. If we resign Newton with a god awful contract the it will seriously inhibit our ability to put weapons around him primarily because there's not much flexibility even entering into the negotiations.

I really wouldn't be surprised to see Cam go somewhere else. I'll get flamed for this, but the reality is, is that despite how good Cam is we might have a better chance of getting better without him because we can address all of our glaring needs with solid talent. Not saying we would....just seeing how DG might think so.

Cam still has a lot of growing to do. While he's a great runner, he doesn't have great pocket presence. He holds the ball to long. He doesn't work the flats quick enough.

Cam doesn't make his teammates better? Explain Ginn? He revived Smith's career and Olsen is now considered a top 5 TE with Cam.

[Car123]

And Lafell is not having a good season.