Cam Newton: Self-proclaimed entertainer, icon

[Mr. Scot]

Literally anything that could possibly be taken as negative about Cam turns into a 10 page thread. Then Cam detractors come in like "SEE OMG WE SHOULD DRAFT BLAINE GABBERT. He's so committed to not being controversial that he isn't even going to throw at the combine, lest he accidentally cave some dude's face in with an errant throw. WHY WON'T CAM DO THE SAME?"

When has a discussion about any quarterback in this forum not turned into a colossal fight? Why should Newton discussions be any different.

There's no rookie I want this year.

[BBQ&Beer]

Anybody figure out the context of the quote or are we sticking with the knee jerk?

[Mr. Scot]

Only because you and the non supporters keep bringing up the negatives off the field up, like you guys are saints.than some jump on the gabbert train but trash newton.at least you have been constant with not drafting a qb but your post newton have been nothing but bad.

Unless somebody makes something up about him, it's valid discussion. If you don't think those things matter, debate it.

Some people find the off-field stuff extremely important. Others don't. Those are points of personal preference. Objectively speaking, the team has a history of shying away from guys with character concerns. Whether you agree with that approach or not, that's their way. Whether or not Newton's issues are sufficient to scare them off is unknown, so debate it.

For me, I don't even have to dig that far. I look at the team's situation and, in my judgment, drafting another rookie quarterback is a bad idea given that there's no one else the quality of Andrew Luck out there. Are there individual things I like and dislike about each of the prospects? Sure, but for me it doesn't really matter.

If our team situation were different, I'd probably be agreeable to considering two or three of them (though maybe not at number one).

But it's not, so I'm not.

[teeray]

So in your world there is no need to check his character. We should go on hearsay and not his deeds or words. Got it.

Sounds like that is exactly what you have already done to form your opinion.

The people in the media or on these boards that have said some of the things about Cam run completely contradictory to the testimony of people who actually know him. Yet you guys don't question the guys who write or say these things. Only the ones that have actual access to him.

So far he hasn't really done anything seriously wrong. He bought a laptop that he knew was possibly stolen when he was 18 (and has taken responsibility for that) he was charged, and the charges were dropped.

As a matter of fact he refers to this incident as a spring board to make changes in his life and has gone, unprompted, to elementary schools to try and help kids not make the same mistakes that he has made. Is this included in your "deeds" that has helped form your opinion?

He had some moving violations and a bunch of parking tickets in Florida.

You said his words have offended you. What words?? This icon thing??

He has not gotten into any trouble at Auburn or at his JC and is beloved by all of his teammates at both stops who think he is a pretty humble guy. Fairley used this term to describe him in a recent interview.

Is it the pay for play scheme that the NCAA says he had no knowledge of?? I assume you have decided to just not believe their ruling because it is a grand conspiracy by the NCAA to prop Auburn and the SEC up for revenue.

SO he made a mistake buying a computer when he was 18 that he thought may be stolen, he repented for that and has worked with young kids to help them not make the same mistakes he made, he hasn't done anything wrong since then, and his teammates and coaches love the guy.

Yeah he is a convict. Screw him.

[panthers55]

Similar article from 2007: Not just a passing fancy

Lets interject some facts into the discussion:

http://www.nflstatanalysis.net/2010/02/statistical-juggernaut-finding-perfect.html

The only caveat to the article is that drafting a first rounder is going to get cheaper and less risky with the rookie cap. Teams don't have to spend as much money nor stick with a guy for 3 or 4 years because they have so much invested. So it won't set you back as much as it did in the past.

The whole 50% issue ignores the fact that you don't need to hit on a good pick at quarterback every year or two like you do at other positions. You need to hit on one who is good and can be your starter for a decade.

We have picked a linebacker 2 times in the past decade. You could argue that we hit on one of them Beason, had mixed success with Dan Morgan. You could argue that while Davis was a safety we drafted him as a linebacker and had not much success so far. So by the logic of percentages we shouldn't pick one in the first round ever because it is as risky or more than picking a QB.

[panthers55]

Damage control and promotional propoganda over the last few months does not erase what he has done over the last several years. I never said he didn't have good qualities. Why would I read articles about CN on the field when he has never been on an NFL field and my concerns are off the field? I am saying that I have a strong background in sports and psychology. There are some perception problems at play here.

He could be great and we could all benefit. One of the articles I read discuss that first rounders pay off 60% of the time, but only 50% of the QBs do. When character concerns come up, the 50% drops. You admitted that there are character concerns because you explained how the Panthers will look into them. If so, then now is not the time to be promoting Cam Newton.

He has done nothing over the past 2 years that I can find. All of this was a function of what he did as a freshman and sophomore at Florida. Sure he shouldn't bought what he should have assumed was a stolen computer but freshmen drink underage, have unprotected sex and a number of other issues.

I also have a strong background in clinical psychology and sports psychology as well so I can talk about these things as well as you. You and I both know we are talking about on the football field which is where the game is played. There is a long history of players who have had off field concerns who were still great at the game. Character issues don't determine a player's success.

As I mentioned in another thread we have a 50% of hitting on LBs over the past decade, should be avoid them as well?? If you count Davis it is less than 50%.

The difference is that as a psychologist I believe that people change and it much more apropos to evaluate a person based on recent behavior than things that happened years ago. I would hope you would agree.

If you look at success as determined by making a pro bowl appearance the rate that first round quarterbacks make it is higher than any other position.

http://seahawksdraftblog.com/interesting-stats-on-first-round-quarterbacks

Here are an article breaking things down by position:

http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/04/17/which-position-is-the-safest-bet-in-the-first-round/

By this we would only take a linebacker, safety or guard in the first round. Too bad that is not where our positions of need are this year.

[teeray]

So in your world there is no need to check his character. We should go on hearsay and not his deeds or words. Got it.

Just a technicality, hearsay wouldn't be a direct witness to somebody. It would be somebody testifying to what someone else said about something.

So technically the stuff you hear about in the media is hearsay and teammates are direct testimony.

[mav1234]

I'm sure this has been posted, but in the arena of "Uhh, weird thing to say"...

@DanWetzel Dan Wetzel

Newton on limited experience: "not to sound arrogant but what I did in 1 year others couldn't do in their entire collegiate careers."

"Not to sound arrogant but I'm arrogant."

[SorthNarolina]

In the days before twitter you never heard stupid stuff the players say. It doesn't bother me.

I'm not really on the Newton wagon but it's not a big deal.

[mav1234]

In the days before twitter you never heard stupid stuff the players say. It doesn't bother me.

I'm not really on the Newton wagon but it's not a big deal.

I think you'd hear about if they said it to a reporter, like these quotes have been.

It's one thing when the guy says something on his twitter that's idiotic, another when he gives interviews about this stuff IMO.

I do not think it is a major concern but it does make you wonder about his priorities a slight bit.

[panthers55]

I think you'd hear about if they said it to a reporter, like these quotes have been.

It's one thing when the guy says something on his twitter that's idiotic, another when he gives interviews about this stuff IMO.

I do not think it is a major concern but it does make you wonder about his priorities a slight bit.

Regarding the quote he did in 1 year what most guys don't do in 4 years, that is fact. He should be proud of it.

[pantherfan81]

Peter king planted that tweet perfectly. Look what it caused. Cam knew what he was doing & so did Peter. NFL Combine just got more juice by it's biggest prospect, accident?

[mav1234]

Regarding the quote he did in 1 year what most guys don't do in 4 years, that is fact. He should be proud of it.

It wasn't the only quote out of him today that was kind of weird.

I wonder if it was taken out of context or if he is that arrogant about what he did this year. Not a big deal if he is, but I'd not put it past a reporter to slant things a bit.

It just does not sound like what we've heard from Cam Newton before. Both of these tweets are very me-centric whereas in the past he was very team oriented. Now, it's all about him and what he did and what he is, and that is a little concerning to me. I'm not going to worry about it much though, because I don't get to sit in on his interview, where what he says will be most important.

[panthers55]

It wasn't the only quote out of him today that was kind of weird.

I wonder if it was taken out of context or if he is that arrogant about what he did this year. Not a big deal if he is, but I'd not put it past a reporter to slant things a bit.

It just does not sound like what we've heard from Cam Newton before. Both of these tweets are very me-centric whereas in the past he was very team oriented. Now, it's all about him and what he did and what he is, and that is a little concerning to me. I'm not going to worry about it much though, because I don't get to sit in on his interview, where what he says will be most important.

Don't know what it is all about either but up until recently it was all about the team. Now with the combine looming, it is all about him. Not surprised that the focus has changed from team to me.