Cam Newton Erases All Doubt

[N1kkadeemuz]

Holy Jesus I was just stating the inevitable, at some point he will have to make a decision to stay or leave. If the Panthers stay in the doldrums of the league it would be extremely tempting for any player to go to a winning franchise.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Honestly, no matter what Newton says about it being his fault...I look at it has him saying the politically correct thing. Yeah I'm sure he really does feel the need to take some blame, but he's been amazing in basically EVERY game thus far (in my opinion). But watching him SO distraught about losing...as good as it made me feel to have a true dedicated QB, it can bite us in the ass if we don't start putting the pieces around him. That's with ANY superstar.

You know the reason Lebron left? Because the front office panicked and tried to surround him with anything they could, every chance they got and ruined their cap and their ability to compete. This is a completely different game with completely different rules and we've already surrounded him with good talent on offense. I trust that we can do that on defense with Hurney and Rivera.

[blackcat22]

A team's national perception and even "market" is rarely determined by the size of the city. Pittsburgh is a relatively small market, about the same size as Charlotte, but it's pretty much the 2nd most popular team in the country behind the Cowboys. Meanwhile, San Diego is the 8th largest city in the US and it's considered a "small market" football team.

How would you say Charlotte is perceived as a market and a franchise?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

What makes this even more special is the fact that people said he couldn't do it.

A lot of people thought that J.R. was stupid for asking Cam "Do you want to be great?", but I think that was the smartest move made in the entire process. I have always been a Auburn/Cam fan because of a close friend that I have but I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried after all the hype I personally gave him when he decided to leave Auburn for the NFL. Anyway back to main point... I feel like if you can take guys like Steve Smith and Cam Newton who were told that they won't or even can't succeed at the next level and light a fire under them; then they tend to turn out as some of the best and most exciting football players because they leave it out on the field every single week.

[The_Mango55]

How would you say Charlotte is perceived as a market and a franchise?

Right now? Small.

But who knows how we will be percieved at the end of Cam's rookie contract. New England was percieved as a small market before 2001.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

Ehhh it's more things linking to one another...I'll think to myself " Cam is great. Imagine him 5 yrs. fom now. By then his contract will be up. OH NO, what if we can't re-sign him. etc."

I need to go to sleep. :Yawn:

Yeah, I would just enjoy the now and not worry about anything that far away that we can't have any idea of knowing. Sleep is awesome.

[blackcat22]

Right now? Small.

But who knows how we will be percieved at the end of Cam's rookie contract. New England was percieved as a small market before 2001.

Good point

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Also, just because we are a small market doesn't mean we don't have any pull. It only takes one guy...to influence others. See Jesus and now hopefully Cam Newton.

[panthers55]

How does he go anywhere even if he wants to? He is under contract for 4 years with an option for a fifth. At that point we could franchise tag him for what we will pay him if he stays this great for the next 2 years and we are 7 years down the road and he is hitting on 30. Honestly if he continues to be a top 5 quarterback we could pay him as such by franchising tagging him ongoingly. He knows it and we know it. Bottom line is that he couldn't leave if he wanted to. He will sign a huge deal and hopefully be worth every dime. Nothing I have read or heard about newton suggests he is money or fame grubbing. It isn't as if he is a big city kid. Once we start making the playoffs consistently, he will very happy here. Other than Pepper's and Jenkins, who exactly has rushed to leave here despite all of our struggles over the past few years.

[Chaos]

Indy - small market, but they got a franchise QB and look what happened. Carolina is no different, tis the nature of the NFL. If you get your star at QB, you build around through the draft. Top QB's in this league can make average WR's look like hall of famers.

Bottom line: it's tough to land that centerpiece that you build around. If Cam is that guy, and it looks like he is, then the front office should work on building a Rivera defense that will terrorize our opponents, and keep a solid O-line to protect your centerpiece. The rest is history. Carolina can have sustained success, and it starts with Cam.

[King Taharqa]

Just hoping he doesn't Lebron James the Panthers.

I just hope Jerry Richardson doesnt "Dan Gilbert" Cam and start acting like and talking to Cam like he's his personal slave that owes him servitude even when he's not under contract. It'll ruin his image and this team like Gilbert ruined the Cavs. Richardson doesnt strike me as a Gilbert, someone who just wants to milk his golden goose for all its worth rather than field competitive teams. I think Jerry will surround Cam with the talent that'll make it easy for him to stay. Cam could transcend his sport the way LeBron has his if maintains his will to be great like a LeBron. He's that special an athlete.

[4Corners]

omfg

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I just hope Jerry Richardson doesnt "Dan Gilbert" Cam and start acting like and talking to Cam like he's his personal slave that owes him servitude even when he's not under contract. It'll ruin his image and this team like Gilbert ruined the Cavs. Richardson doesnt strike me as a Gilbert, someone who just wants to milk his golden goose for all its worth rather than field competitive teams. I think Jerry will surround Cam with the talent that'll make it easy for him to stay. Cam could transcend his sport the way LeBron has his if maintains his will to be great like a LeBron. He's that special an athlete.

In the Cav's defense, they tried to surround Lebron with talent, but they happened to be very stupid (Big contracts for Gooden and Hughes, Hooray!). Gilbert was a jerk especially with that open letter, but he did spend a lot of money . . . badly.

[King Taharqa]

In the Cav's defense, they tried to surround Lebron with talent, but they happened to be very stupid (Big contracts for Gooden and Hughes, Hooray!). Gilbert was a jerk especially with that open letter, but he did spend a lot of money . . . badly.

Refusing to trade JJ Hickson for Amare Stoudemire then ultimately trading him the next year for Caspi in Sac tells me all I need to know about how good the Cavs front office is. Hell, drafting Tyree #1 overall says a lot too. LOL.