Pat Y was asked about Newton's red flags.

[Stumpy]

Didn't see this posted anywhere...

Jake (Durham)

If Gabbert does well this weekend, and they dont trade-- Dont you think he would fit the franchise better when it comes to overall image JR wants? -- I am referring to what seems like red flags wi Cams attitude towards authority. --

Pat Yasinskas (1:54 PM)

In the past, and as recently as a couple of weeks ago, I would say yes. But I'm hearing Newton has pretty much satisfactorily answered their questions and passed their background test.

I have questioned Newton's character, but it seems he has satisfied the ones who matter. If the Panthers, a team that has been so adamant about high character guys, are satisfied with his answers and background, then I have no reason to doubt their opinion.

This doesn't change my view on drafting Cam, (my issue with him at #1 has nothing to do with his character) but it, along with his Wonderlic score, certainly makes me feel a lot better about him if he does end up being the choice.

[SCP]

take him. upside.

[countryboi]

what the hell does he mean "better when it comes to overall image" .....can anyone make a mistake and grow from it and move on anymore?

[nagai]

Oh wow, if this is true, it's huge. I want to hear more about this. It's unlikely that we'll get any clarification on this though.

[Brooklyn Bully]

what the hell does he mean "better when it comes to overall image" .....can anyone make a mistake and grow from it and move on anymore?

Not on this board. Once a laptop stealer, always a laptop stealer!!!!!1111

[blackcatgrowl]

Not on this board. Once a laptop stealer, always a laptop stealer!!!!!1111

Yep. And once a traffic law violator, always a traffic law violator.

[blueandblackattack]

No one seems to have said this yet but I will:

You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't have your head in the playbook and aren't a leader of men then you will not succeed in the NFL. Period.

You can't teach attitude, you can't teach overcoming adversity. That comes from your true character inside, and I don't see that in Newton. If you walk in and say "I'm an entertainer; I'm an Icon," then thats when Smitty starts breaking faces, and Shockey will throw some in there too for good measure.

When the chips are down, how do you think the Icon will fair compared to Gabbert? If we pick the wrong guy, we will be setback around 5 years. Just look at the teams who have picked a quarterback based on measurables and have busted: Couch, Leaf, Vick, Young, A. Smith, Leinhart, and on and on.

You watch Gabbert's interviews and what he says, and the video of him breaking down coverages and working the white board, then you know where his priorities are.

You can teach mechanics, but you can't teach heart and whats in your head.

My vote is go Gabbert or go defense, just don't go Newton.

[MHS831]

what the hell does he mean "better when it comes to overall image" .....can anyone make a mistake and grow from it and move on anymore?

"a mistake" as in 1? Can you be more specific?

[MHS831]

Is Yas referring to the past when the Panthers had no first rounder (last 2 years) or were picking in the middle of the pack? Is he comparing Rivera to Fox? Is he in the business of saying, "I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine."? Come on people-these are reporters. They know nothing more than you.

Gabbert's strong pro day should make open-minded people happy. It give the Panther's another option, it makes the first pick more valuable in terms of a trade. Newton's stock is starting to slip, and I have to think, at the end of the day, if your job was on the line, you would do the right thing-regardless of what you said to the media.

Since trading the pick is an option, why would you say anything but positives?

[CatMan72]

If this is true, then you might as well go ahead and order your Newton jersey.

[MHS831]

No one seems to have said this yet but I will:

You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't have your head in the playbook and aren't a leader of men then you will not succeed in the NFL. Period.

You can't teach attitude, you can't teach overcoming adversity. That comes from your true character inside, and I don't see that in Newton. If you walk in and say "I'm an entertainer; I'm an Icon," then thats when Smitty starts breaking faces, and Shockey will throw some in there too for good measure.

When the chips are down, how do you think the Icon will fair compared to Gabbert? If we pick the wrong guy, we will be setback around 5 years. Just look at the teams who have picked a quarterback based on measurables and have busted: Couch, Leaf, Vick, Young, A. Smith, Leinhart, and on and on.

You watch Gabbert's interviews and what he says, and the video of him breaking down coverages and working the white board, then you know where his priorities are.

You can teach mechanics, but you can't teach heart and whats in your head.

My vote is go Gabbert or go defense, just don't go Newton.

What gets me is the fact that there are red flags considering Cam's attitude (icon-entertainer, teammates called him "selfish" as exemplified when he tried to score at the bowl game when the coach told to take a knee), character (stolen computer, stealing from teammates' lockers at UF, caught cheating 4 times), mechanics (footwork, delivery), and accuracy (combine 52%, pro day), and they still want this guy without doubt or question. I hear "Upside" and "leadership" as if they alone are enough to override the mountain of reasons to run away from this pick. Getting coached on what to say and repeating the words like a parrot is not what I call leadership.

With Gabbert you get no baggage, an intelligent (wonderlic, all academic team), strong armed (scouts say he could push it down the field and make all the throws), leader (answered all the questions in interviews at combine more impressively than other QBs-find it if you want proof), and his accuracy was similar to Bradford and Ryan.

What is this upside Cam supporters are talking about? Is it due to his speed (4.59 to 4.62), his size (Cam is 1/2 inch taller and 10 pounds heavier), leadership? Intelligence? Accuracy? College highlight reels?

[firstdayfan]

No one seems to have said this yet but I will:

You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don't have your head in the playbook and aren't a leader of men then you will not succeed in the NFL. Period.

You can't teach attitude, you can't teach overcoming adversity. That comes from your true character inside, and I don't see that in Newton. If you walk in and say "I'm an entertainer; I'm an Icon," then thats when Smitty starts breaking faces, and Shockey will throw some in there too for good measure.

When the chips are down, how do you think the Icon will fair compared to Gabbert? If we pick the wrong guy, we will be setback around 5 years. Just look at the teams who have picked a quarterback based on measurables and have busted: Couch, Leaf, Vick, Young, A. Smith, Leinhart, and on and on.

You watch Gabbert's interviews and what he says, and the video of him breaking down coverages and working the white board, then you know where his priorities are.

You can teach mechanics, but you can't teach heart and whats in your head.

My vote is go Gabbert or go defense, just don't go Newton.

You lose a lot of credibility whenever you talk about smitty and shockey "breaking faces" so what you said pretty much gets thrown out. But honestly I do see your point but I'd like to add something to it...wouldn't you rather have someone that has actually overcome adversary? Whether it was self inflicted or not he won the sec championship and the nat championship while dealing with his daddy issues. What did Jimmy ever have to overcome? Some stupid pictures he took? Driving up in a limo?

In the NFL every player will have to deal with some adversary at some point in time whether it's small (poor play) or big (being accused of sexual assault) and how that person deals with those issues is huge. The good thing about newton or the bright side if you will, is that we KNOW he can perform on the field no matter what happens off of it.

[raleigh-panther]

What gets me is the fact that there are red flags considering Cam's attitude (icon-entertainer, teammates called him "selfish" as exemplified when he tried to score at the bowl game when the coach told to take a knee), character (stolen computer, stealing from teammates' lockers at UF, caught cheating 4 times), mechanics (footwork, delivery), and accuracy (combine 52%, pro day), and they still want this guy without doubt or question. I hear "Upside" and "leadership" as if they alone are enough to override the mountain of reasons to run away from this pick. Getting coached on what to say and repeating the words like a parrot is not what I call leadership.

With Gabbert you get no baggage, an intelligent (wonderlic, all academic team), strong armed (scouts say he could push it down the field and make all the throws), leader (answered all the questions in interviews at combine more impressively than other QBs-find it if you want proof), and his accuracy was similar to Bradford and Ryan.

What is this upside Cam supporters are talking about? Is it due to his speed (4.59 to 4.62), his size (Cam is 1/2 inch taller and 10 pounds heavier), leadership? Intelligence? Accuracy? College highlight reels?

The teams Newton has been on wins.

Gabbert's teams do not.

Gabbert also struggles with alluding the blitz.

Gabbert's stats in games is 6.7 yards...that, is a concern.

We already have Jimmy Clausen on this team...we don't need a taller version.

Gabbert, too, may already be as good as he is ever going to be.

I think Newton has explained that 'icon' statement a 1000 times and you know what, maybe he is an icon, who knows, the apparel company must think so.

[firstdayfan]

How can someone honestly use his accuracy at the combine as an actual measure of his overall accuracy??? That's Adrian Petersen stupid. He was a 60+% passer last year and his mechanics are damn near flawless. Much better than Jimmy, The Golden Calf of Bristol, or Gabbert. His footwork and dropbacks were better IMO than Gabbert's (i saw about 20 throws before ESPN switched coverage), not to mention it's improving. And the issues in his past are obviously not a problem if the panthers are considering him with the first overall pick. Does that cover most of the flags?

Listen, Newton will take time to become a great QB and he may never be one but you could say that for every QB ever drafted. Gabbert may be good as well but I don't think he will ever be a top 10 QB...I compare him to a Kyle Orton type player (which isn't bad). But Newton could be the next Big Ben, Josh Freeman, Vince Young (playmaking version) all rolled into one.

There is still time between now and the draft but I think I've settled on this much...if we stay at number one we have to take a chance on Newton. If we trade down (which I would perfer) then we take a DT or Patrick petersen.