Cam's Combine Throwing May Have Been Rigged Against Him

[King Taharqa]

I already said that this draft season wasn't going to be anything like last year. Especially since it's pretty much the same scenerio as last year but this time the media is getting the QB they want at number one, so there is no need to go in hard on RG III. No Jamarcus comparisons this time around.

Thats because no one is elevating him above the "golden boy". Last year you had people like me who werent sipping the kool aid and defiantly proclaimed Cam better than him, so the media and certain fans went in hard. You have very few people saying RG3 is better or will be better. So he's perceived as "less threatening" and "more tolerable". I understand that, I just dont understand why people think the "golden boy" is gonna survive off hype and "because I said so's". At some point he's gonna have to PROVE himself, and the longer he avoids that, the harder its gonna be.

[MHS831]

I still love the fact that Cam was willing to throw at the combine. He is a competitor and wanted to compete. He didn't have a great performance, but his willingness to do it spoke volumes of the mentality that this guy has.

Not a knock on others who don't throw. I understand why they don't. But I think it was a compliment to Cam that he did so IMO

Cam was trying to prove himself--lotta questions about his ability and, frankly, most of the questions dealt with his accuracy and mental aspects. The throwing dispelled some of the things not associated with accuracy. It was a good thing because he kept putting himself out there.

By that time my mind was closed about him. I do not think it changed until I watched him practice in person. How 1 man can chance a community, team, etc.is amazing.

If I were the Browns or the Redskins, I would do what it takes to get RGIII. He should have a similar impact on either team, but I do not expect his success to be as rampant. The Colts, meanwhile, have no idea how lucky they are. 10 years of 10 win seasons and then a 2 win season when the best QB (supposedly) in more than a decade comes out.

[footballisasport]

Thats because no one is elevating him above the "golden boy". Last year you had people like me who werent sipping the kool aid and defiantly proclaimed Cam better than him, so the media and certain fans went in hard. You have very few people saying RG3 is better or will be better. So he's perceived as "less threatening" and "more tolerable". I understand that, I just dont understand why people think the "golden boy" is gonna survive off hype and "because I said so's". At some point he's gonna have to PROVE himself, and the longer he avoids that, the harder its gonna be.

As the saying goes, don't pay attention to what they say, pay attention to what isn't being said and learn to read between the lines...And there you will find the reality and the truth.

I kinda get the feeling that whomever the media picks as the "chosen QB" every draft season gets to make tons of mistakes and is not scrutinized as harshly as those who weren't as lucky. That is why they go out of their way to pick a QB more to their liking, and not so much the better one. Cam was clearly the better QB but they wanted Blaine because he more suit the "QB image," so the whole play on the "safer of the two" was used a lot.

They are doing the same thing with RG III and Luck. But this time since RGIII doesn't have any strings they can pull and use agaisnt his image, they are just telling us to accept it because they said so. And I love the whole, "second isn't a bad place" attitude when folks challenge the whole Luck is automatic lock for first place argument. Well, considering how they treated Cam last season, I guess second didn't set well with them either and Cam proved he deserved his position.

And let's be real, it's not even just a racial thing as much as it goes to show how powerful the sports media have become in the NFL. They now dictate not only who gets to be the "chosen QB" but how theses players should be treated. I was pissed when Matt Stafford went ahead of Sanchez in 2009 and now you have the media calling for the Jets to get rid of Sanchez simply because he didn't get the Jets into the play-offs. Matt Stafford finally had a good season after how many years and couldn't get his team past the first round of the play-offs. It now feels as if the NFL is basically run by the media. And I guess it should be since it looks like half of the NFL ex-players now working for the media.

Also, I use to really like Kurt Warner. Never realized how much of an elitist snob he really is. Maybe I need to go back to just watching football and leave the reality of what this world is REALLY like alone..SMDH

[The_Mango55]

Why does this matter anymore?

Obviously the Panthers didn't care, and obviously Cam is a fine passer. Can we forget about last year's combine?

Combine numbers are irrelevant after someone takes their first snap in the NFL. Brian Bosworth had like the best combine in history.

As the saying goes, don't pay attention to what they say...

Sounds like your saying contradicts itself :p

[carolinarolls]

before reading this thread I never felt the need to make excuses for Cam Newton

and now...

still don't

[mav1234]

And, what part of Cam's stats were the only ones turned into endless news stories do you not understand. Please find me a story regarding any of the other QBs stats from the Combine.

So now it's changed from "Publicly released" to "posted in a news story"?

http://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-seahawks/2011/2/27/2018903/jake-locker-nfl-combine-results-throwing-session-draft-stock

There were stories on each prospect at that point, and NFL.com has videos of each prospect. The others WERE discussed, just not as much as Cam because, surprise, Cam had more controversy. Way more than RG3.

Also, the only thing that makes Cam controversial is that he's out there proving his naysayers wrong and they hate it. Hence, the endless critical spins and debates over everything he does. Clearly, the problem isn't him...

In the case with RG III...see my first statement regarding the media. And if Luck isn't throwing, then neither should RG III. Especially when it will be RG who the media will be scrutinizing, not Luck.

What makes cam controversial now is people doubting he can do it again. What made him controversial before was the whole leaving-Florida-then-leaving-Blinn-then-being-totally-awesome-at-Auburn. Oh yeah, and his father trying to sell him.

As to throwing, you're right, I mean it is obvious that Cam Newton's draft stock was crippled by him throwing and the "media darling Gabbert" or whatever you think of him not throwing!

[mav1234]

Thats because no one is elevating him above the "golden boy". Last year you had people like me who werent sipping the kool aid and defiantly proclaimed Cam better than him, so the media and certain fans went in hard. You have very few people saying RG3 is better or will be better. So he's perceived as "less threatening" and "more tolerable". I understand that, I just dont understand why people think the "golden boy" is gonna survive off hype and "because I said so's". At some point he's gonna have to PROVE himself, and the longer he avoids that, the harder its gonna be.

so what is "proving" himself? RG3 is going to have to, too.

Luck knows he has to. Whitfield commented on this in his recent interview posted here. By no means is Luck cocky, he knows what he has to do. Whitfield had some nice comparisons between Luck and Cam's attitude. It might be worth looking at for those that seem to actually dislike Luck for one reason or another.

I question these prospects work ethic and competitive fire.

I don't understand why you would question RG3's work ethic because he isn't going to throw. That's silly.

He doesn't have the prove things the same way Cam did, because he spent several years at a major school and improved every year at it. Just very different situations, IMO. Cam knew he had to show people what he was willing to do because of the question marks in his past. RG3 doesn't have that - and he also knows he's unlikely to win people over with throwing drills, because everybody knows both he and Luck are capable in that area.

[ed bell]

And let's be real, it's not even just a racial thing as much as it goes to show how powerful the sports media have become in the NFL. They now dictate not only who gets to be the "chosen QB" but how theses players should be treated. I was pissed when Matt Stafford went ahead of Sanchez in 2009 and now you have the media calling for the Jets to get rid of Sanchez simply because he didn't get the Jets into the play-offs. Matt Stafford finally had a good season after how many years and couldn't get his team past the first round of the play-offs. It now feels as if the NFL is basically run by the media. And I guess it should be since it looks like half of the NFL ex-players now working for the media.

Also, I use to really like Kurt Warner. Never realized how much of an elitist snob he really is. Maybe I need to go back to just watching football and leave the reality of what this world is REALLY like alone..SMDH

But Sanchez deserves the scrutiny and Stafford is proving to be the better QB, he was drafted by the Lions at a point where you could argue that they were one of the worst teams in the history of the NFL...Are you saying that the media dictate personnel moves made by teams? That's simply not true. You're over-valuing the impact of these talking heads. They've been doing these same things for years.

[pstall]

So basically its a roll of the dice? That works for me.

[rainwater]

I still love the fact that Cam was willing to throw at the combine. He is a competitor and wanted to compete. He didn't have a great performance, but his willingness to do it spoke volumes of the mentality that this guy has.

Not a knock on others who don't throw. I understand why they don't. But I think it was a compliment to Cam that he did so IMO

Cam pretty much had to since his stock as far as accuracy couldn't get much worse. Guys like Luck and RGIII don't have the perception so it would be stupid to throw at the combine and hurt their stock. So I don't think you can really compare Cam to these two guys when talking about the combine.

[teeray]

Cam pretty much had to since his stock as far as accuracy couldn't get much worse. Guys like Luck and RGIII don't have the perception so it would be stupid to throw at the combine and hurt their stock. So I don't think you can really compare Cam to these two guys when talking about the combine.

Maybe you missed it last year, but according to SI Cam Newton was number 1 overall on at least 7 teams big boards even before the combine.

His stock would have been fine and he likely would have been picked by us #1 whether he threw or not.

It isn't like Cam had the best combine.

[King Taharqa]

Luck knows he has to. Whitfield commented on this in his recent interview posted here. By no means is Luck cocky, he knows what he has to do. Whitfield had some nice comparisons between Luck and Cam's attitude. It might be worth looking at for those that seem to actually dislike Luck for one reason or another.

I just dont feel Luck has any competitive fire. Everything has been handed to him. No one's telling him to work hard to be the #1 pick like they did Cam. This is why I question Luck's work ethic and competitive fire. He didnt even win his bowl game and he's being told "he's the undisputed #1". I question whether this is the type of guy that can overcome great odds and adversity when his supporters go out of their way to shield him from it. Ive still yet to see you or anyone else tell me what he needs to work on. What are his strengths? What are his flaws? Are we supposed to believe he has none?

I don't understand why you would question RG3's work ethic because he isn't going to throw. That's silly.

And yet this was the basis for why Cam HAD TO throw at the combine last year. Because people like yourself just werent sure if he had the will and desire. Even coming off a national title/Heisman run. Had Cam lost in his national title game it would've been a strike held against him. No one is mentioning how poorly Luck looked in his last game.

He doesn't have the prove things the same way Cam did, because he spent several years at a major school and improved every year at it. Just very different situations, IMO. Cam knew he had to show people what he was willing to do because of the question marks in his past. RG3 doesn't have that - and he also knows he's unlikely to win people over with throwing drills, because everybody knows both he and Luck are capable in that area.

Or maybe no one is arguing that RG3 should be the #1 overall pick, so no need to put him thru the ringer like Cam. On the NFLN broadcast they didnt even have the Colts talking to RG3 nor did they argue why he should go #1. Stark contrast to last year's draft when Luck pulled out, the media finds another chosen one in Blaine Gabbert to argue is #1 worthy like Cam. Yet this season, its a given "Luck has to go #1!". Like footballisasport says, the media and certain fans got their guy this time. This year's draft is showing the bias and ignorance of last year's draft even more. People are looking at how Luck is being given everything and how much the analysts are coddling him compared to last year's #1. Its hurting the game and its further deepening the levels of distrust with these analysts and how good some of these QBs really are.