With All This Newton Debate...

[teeray]

You are correct. I see it as a possiblity. I am not a hater of Cam Newton, I am one who sees the risk and chooses other options. I realize we could take him, and part of me is pumped about it, but then reality sinks in. And part of my mindset has to do with my assessment of the "Panther way." Shockey might be the first step in a new direction.

If you think, We need someone to start now, you could be right. However, we are 2-3 free agents away (QB, DT, maybe CB) from not needing a player right now.

Do I think Cam is worth the #1 pick? No. Would I entertain trade offers? Yes, with a discount. Could Cam be great? Absolutely. Would I support him? Absolutely. Could he suck? Yep. Would I support him? Yes, like I do Clausen. Great athletes are resilient. QBs need time.

My concern is the reason most of the huggers are for Cam is they see him as the best way to get rid of Clausen. If things were reversed and JC stayed in, and Cam were thrown into the mess we had here last season, the same people would be screaming for JC and wanting Newton gone.

Please, Buffalo, Cincy, and Arizona: Give us some offers. I would rather have Gabbert and picks.

For the record (not sating you accused me of this) I have said for a while that Clausen deserves a chance to prove himself and that IMO there is a good chance he is our opening day starter.

I just don't think he has shown enough that we have the luxury to sit back and just see how it unfolds. He just didn't show ANYTHING to instill any faith in him for me. He was totally inept last year. Some of that was coaching, some of that was personnel, A LOT of it was JC.

As bad as Jake was in 09 he was exponentially better than Clausen. At least he would sustain a drive before throwing a soul crushing pick :)

[Udogg]

MHS831, No one would be screaming for JC gone if he didn't suck so bad. He didn't give a glimpse of potential. He looked like Chris Wienke near the end of his career here. Even as the line play and running game improved he looked the same. I think Newton would have played better just off athleticism alone.

[fjblair]

For God's sake give it a rest. The Panthers are NOT drafting Cam Newton. No way.

[csx]

When will all these threads DIE????

Groundhog Day

[Mr. Scot]

What I'm beginning to see is that a lot of things we thought were inherent to the whole organization might actually have been tied to John Fox and Mark Richardson, both of whom are now gone.

It was Fox who didn't believe in the franchise quarterback model, not the team. Likewise it would seem with the signing of Shockey that it was Fox who wanted to stay away from "loudmouth" players.

With Mark Richardson gone and Danny Morrison running things, you've seen the team become way more open to radio and TV interviews and such. Even at camps and practices, Morrison has been engaging to common fans where Mark Richardson was not.

Now some things haven't changed. The team will still stay away from guys with criminal pasts or thuggish attitudes. Rae Carruth saw to that. And frankly, I have no issue with that. I wouldn't want a Ben Roethlisberger, a Jerramy Stevens or a Rae Carruth on this team, ever.

But can I live with a Jeremy Shockey? If he's healthy, sure.

[monstercat]

I love the logic both camps are using.

Pro Cam: Cam is the best player in the draft and nobody is going to want to trade up.

No Cam: Cam has concerns and if he's so good, why doesn't anybody want to trade up for him?

It's like watching dogs at the track chasing after the rabbit, only it never stops going in circles.

That's good, except it's mainly the no Cam people who believe somebody is going to trade up for him even though they believe he's not good enough for us.