Now that it's almost certain Cam will be the pick, what are your thoughts?

[Sheldon Wolowizard]

2010 Cameron Newton Auburn QB

2009 Mark Ingram Alabama RB

2008 Sam Bradford Oklahoma QB

2007 The Golden Calf of Bristol Florida QB

2006 Troy Smith Ohio State QB

2005 Reggie Bush Southern California RB

2004 Matt Leinart Southern California QB

2003 Jason White Oklahoma QB

2002 Carson Palmer Southern California QB

2001 Eric Crouch Nebraska QB

2000 Chris Weinke Florida State QB

1999 Ron Dayne Wisconsin RB

1998 Ricky Williams Texas RB

1997 Charles Woodson Michigan DB/WR

1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida QB

1995 Eddie George Ohio State RB

1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado RB

1993 Charlie Ward Florida State QB

1992 Gino Torretta Miami QB

1991 Desmond Howard Michigan WR

1990 Ty Detmer Brigham Young QB

1989 Andre Ware Houston QB

1988 Barry Sanders Oklahoma State RB

1987 Tim Brown Notre Dame WR

1986 Vinny Testaverde Miami QB

1985 Bo Jackson Auburn RB

1984 Doug Flutie Boston College QB

1983 Mike Rozier Nebraska RB

1982 Herschel Walker Georgia RB

1981 Marcus Allen Southern California RB

These are the past 30 years of Heisman winners. There have been 16 QB recipients of the award. Removing The Golden Calf of Bristol and Bradford, since their careers haven't developed far enough to this point to give them a proper evaluation and Newton since he's not even drafted yet, that leave 13 quarterbacks who haven't really developed into the team cornerstone.

I'm not saying that Newton can't do it, I'm just saying history really doesn't play into his favor.

[Woodie]

I'm thinking it's still too early to know anything.

Hurney has never shown his hand and I don't expect that to change now.

This is what I'm thinking. There's far too much speculation this far away from the draft. We still have players coming in for workouts/meetings (including Cam, himself), so I can't see any way Hurney & Rivera have zeroed in on one guy yet. Both are very methodical men, and I just don't believe they would make a decision before having all the information (such as the QB's showing they can read a defense on the whiteboard or in film study, which is the purpose of this visit).

Knowing what we know about Hurney's natural tight-lipped way, along with the inordinate amount of rumors supposedly coming out of Panther land, I tend to think there is more going on than simply deciding they want Cam. Too many people seem to have "inside" information for me to completely buy in at this time.

[Pox 08]

I will be excited with whichever player Hurney selects. This is a new era in Panther football.

[Sam Mills Fan]

"Heisman winners can't do well in the NFL" is one of the dumbest "truths" in all of sports. This is entirely a coincidence. Up until Bush beat Kerry in 2004, in every presidential cycle since the '30s, if the Redskins had won their last home game before Election Day, the party in power in the White House went on to win the election. Every time the Redskins lost, the challengers were the ones to win. Does anybody think there was any causal relationship there? Of course not. Guys like Peyton Manning were Heisman contenders and came close to winning. Does that mean if Peyton had won it then his career would have magically failed? Let's get serious guys.

[mav1234]

I don't think his Heisman hurts him but it doesn't help, either.

If we pick him, I'll be excited to see how he does. That's what I've said all along. Excited does not mean it'd be my pick, but he is the sexiest, boom-or-bust prospect there is in this draft. Unless you really don't like him as a prospect it is hard *not* to be excited about him coming here.

As of right now, I still think we'd be a better *team* if we went in a different direction, but at least it'll be interesting to see the national media cover us like crazy for the next year or so (though that is what we said about Clausen until he blew chunks, too =|)

[Jackofalltrades]

Per NFLN Hurney said they haven't decided on who the pick will be yet.

It's predraft, so like EVERYTHING ELSE, take it for what it's worth.

[pepaw]

I am scared sh1tless...

[Ja Rhule]

My thoughts are there will be a lot of disappointed people when draft comes around. Lots of people will jump the waggon and will become Bengals fans.

[Doc Holiday]

There are a lot of people that have been spending the entire offseason so far doing nothing but giving us reason after reason why they feel that Cam shouldn't be the pick. How are you guys feeling after this tidal wave of Cam-to-the-Panthers news from the past week? Are you still in denial? Are you angry? Ready to get behind him?

And if you've been pro-Cam for a while, how about you? Are you feeling as optimistic for the future as you have in a long time like I am?

Until I hear "with the first pick of the 2011 NFL draft Carolina selects Cam Newton"

He's not our pick, I like how you say "well everyone in the media says" while ignoring the article that was posted last week where Hurney said on wfnz that they were still looking at 7 players for the first pick. Instead of looking at the media I would look at the person making the pick.

[mav1234]

Per NFLN Hurney said they haven't decided on who the pick will be yet.

It's predraft, so like EVERYTHING ELSE, take it for what it's worth.

nonsense. The Huddle is sure of the pick, it's clear Hurney is, too!

[panthers55]

Until Newton is announced it isn't a done deal. I wish it was, but I have been around enough to know that things aren't guaranteed especially when it comes to the draft. Still it is pretty funny to see all the Cam haters squirm as all the pundits say we are going to draft Newton. Honestly when the local writers say it is a done deal then I might believe it.

[MHS831]

three weeks is a long time. Remember that JR met with Cam today; he will meet with the other top candidates. No decision has been made.

I think he could be the pick, but if we get a trade offer, we are all over it.

[Vagrant]

I will honestly consider turning in my fan card of the Panthers if we draft Cam Newton and it has nothing to do with race, because EVERY other option I want is another black guy.... which doesn't even really matter. I just don't like thugs. Give me a guy with a relatively clean background and that doesn't talk in third person and I might be interested. I don't see why the position of QB is regarding with such reverence that race would make a difference.

To me, this is just like Falcons fans saying back in the day that we would kill to have Michael Vick on our team. I always contended that I wasn't interested because he sucked as a person then. I didn't see the events that changed him so thoroughly coming and now believe that he has truly improved both personally and professionally and would love to have him now. Cam reminds me of Vick 1.0, prior to the realization that he wasn't the center of the universe and that the whole script could flip on him at a moments notice. I would honestly take Vince Young over Cam right now due to the fact that I think VY is much closer to realizing his mistakes in his career and taking full blame for his lack of success and his skill set is highly comparable to Cam's. Plus, I still do have hope that the player we invested a middle 2nd rounder on last year can pull it together and be a decent starter down the road. He needs time.

Give me a guy like Patrick Peterson with a great line of players in his family like Santana Moss and Bryant McFadden. He doesn't have the character concerns to me. He was also involved in a pay to play type scenario with a family "friend", supposedly, but who really knows what goes on there. I think PP7 is the closest thing we have in this draft to a true game changer that we know to be a game changer right now. The best CB to come out since Deion, in my estimation. We need that kind of player.

[YoungPanthers89]

go ahead