Lets Take A Look Back At The Huddles Opinion On Drafting Cam Before The Draft

[KendrickPanther]

cam newton's success will change the way young black football players are scouted by high school coaching staffs. black kids are converted to wide receivers because their athletic ability allows them to excel at that position; cam is proof that an incredibly athletic individual can succeed at the quarterback position, and suddenly kids that normally would've been converted to wideout or defensive back will be given shots at QB.

it may take a couple of decades to see generational shifts, but the complexion of the game is going to change.

Yeah they made Chris Leak play DB 10 years ago.....Charlotte needs to catch up with the times...

[malik]

What was considered really good for a rookie last year would be considered below average for a non rookie. At the end of the day 6 wins isn't success and other rookie QBs like Andy Dalton, TJ Yates, and even The Golden Calf of Bristol had much more success winnng games. So as long as wins trump big plays and big stats, then it's very premature to award the Panthers the division just yet. Hopefully Cam can avoid the Sophmore slump as more plays are installed, but there is no guarantee.

as for racism on this board, this 2 month old thread is pretty telling:

I don't really care about stupid arguments like this. I don't care how many games he wins cause he's one freaking man and there's 53 other people on the team.

[fieryprophet]

Why won't this thread just die? I HATE racial talk, people just don't look at it intelligently or ascribe maliciousness to plain ignorance.

No matter what kind of shake Cam got from other people (and I'm sure there was some racial bias out there) the fact remains that he was selected #1 overall, by an organization that had a reputation as one of the most conservative franchises in the NFL, in spite of all the media-driven scrutiny and criticism, had a coaching staff that believed in him completely and did everything they could to make him successful, and plenty of naysayers not only eating their words but now looking high and low for the "next" Cam Newton.

People who dwell on the past never get a step on the future, so let it go.

[King Taharqa]

Youre a lot closer to JOAT and TRD than me "snake". LOL. Look how you want to downplay their ignorant commentary. Another shield for white bigotry I see. I never said I want all our QBs to be black, and I didnt poo a brick when we drafted Clausen. Im actually the most universally liked member on this board.

[malik]

Why won't this thread just die? I HATE racial talk, people just don't look at it intelligently or ascribe maliciousness to plain ignorance.

No matter what kind of shake Cam got from other people (and I'm sure there was some racial bias out there) the fact remains that he was selected #1 overall, by an organization that had a reputation as one of the most conservative franchises in the NFL, in spite of all the media-driven scrutiny and criticism, had a coaching staff that believed in him completely and did everything they could to make him successful, and plenty of naysayers not only eating their words but now looking high and low for the "next" Cam Newton.

People who dwell on the past never get a step on the future, so let it go.

Thats ridiculous and somewhat cowardly. Racism is very real and very alive. I was called a ****, *******, and etc... for most of my High School but i don't give a poo now. I sat in tables where white people would dap up black people and turn around and call them niggers when they leave. Once you leave HS its not as blatant though and becomes much more subtle.

I would say 1/3rd of the hate Cam received was racism, no doubt about it. Some of the people who disliked Cam were probably influenced by the racists. They questioned his intelligence for what reason? They said turn him into a RB for no reason other than he was black and he ran, lets be real about that one.

Jerry conservative? since when? I'm almost positive he came down himself and made the call to get Cam. He was the only guy that gave Ron Rivera a HC job and he didn't even interview anyone else. Ron should have gotten a HC job YEARS ago and was most likely only interviewed cause of the Rooney rule. To call Jerry or the organization conservative or racist is ridiculous.

JackofallTrades doesnt seem like a racist at all to me, he just wasn't a risk taker and im glad the god Jerry Richardson is.

[fieryprophet]

Thats ridiculous and somewhat cowardly. Racism is very real and very alive. I was called a ****, *******, and etc... for most of my High School but i don't give a poo now. I sat in tables where white people would dap up black people and turn around and call them niggers when they leave. Once you leave HS its not as blatant though and becomes much more subtle.

I would say 1/3rd of the hate Cam received was racism, no doubt about it. Some of the people who disliked Cam were probably influenced by the racists. They questioned his intelligence for what reason? They said turn him into a RB for no reason other than he was black and he ran, lets be real about that one.

Jerry conservative? since when? I'm almost positive he came down himself and made the call to get Cam. He was the only guy that gave Ron Rivera a HC job and he didn't even interview anyone else. Ron should have gotten a HC job YEARS ago and was most likely only interviewed cause of the Rooney rule. To call Jerry or the organization conservative or racist is ridiculous.

JackofallTrades doesnt seem like a racist at all to me, he just wasn't a risk taker and im glad the god Jerry Richardson is.

/facepalm

You completely missed what I said. Despite all the criticism or racism surrounding Cam, it failed to have any material effect on his draft position. He went #1, first chosen, the big enchilada, the face of the draft, the crown jewel, the "if we only had to pick one guy this entire year, he's the one we want," the numero uno, the prime directive, number 1/1, the first noel, the solo edition, jersey number 1.

That's what Cam understands, and why he thrives under the pressure surrounding him: he takes care of what he can control, and ignores the rest. The fact that we are still talking about the shadowy roots of all of the criticism surrounding LAST YEAR just distracts from looking forward to the bright future in front of us.

I love Cam to death, but I'm much more interested in the avenues available for black youths that want to become a Fortune 500 CEO or leader of the free world or head of NASA or even a middle-class aspirant with 2.3 kids and a couple of pets, not whether or not they are unfairly criticized regarding the opportunity to throw a football around for a living. The racism people should focus on and strive to correct involves the opportunities for black youths that aren't 6'6", 250lb sublimely talented athletes, but just ordinary people looking for a fair shake in life.

[tiger7_88]

You're confusing which reads people are talking about. Anyone with eyes could see Auburn's scheme had an actual progression (usually three reads, compared to the NFL's five.)

However, the pre-snap reads were usually fed in by the coaches from the sideline. Cam didn't do much in the way of audibles, or route checks, or defensive recognition before the snap. That wasn't a knock on him, because that's simply not what the offense was designed to do. But evaluators couldn't say "yeah, he can do it" without actually seeing him do it. Of course, once he proved that he could (considering he had experience from his high school offense and from Blinn) that should have taken down at least one red flag.

Maybe it is a confusion in verbage then.

When I read "single read and run", that tells me that on a pass play you are only allowing your QB one read to one receiver and, if he is not open, then take-off and run the ball.

That's what I understood it to mean.

And if that is what the people that are calling it that mean by it, then they couldn't be more wrong.

[tiger7_88]

If you stop right here. It sounds like you're talking about The Golden Calf of Bristol.....

The Golden Calf of Bristol was (and is) one helluva player.

Now examine the number of NFL draft picks and NFL starters from those Florida squads he started on and then compare them to the number of NFL draft picks and NFL starters from the Auburn team Cam started on.

[X-Clown]

Here is the problem with that assertion....KT (among others) believe that everyone who questioned the pick of Cam did so BECAUSE of race. This is complete and utter bullshit. I am sure that some did. But to make those generalizations make you sound as ignorant as those that you trying to call out.

Not trying to single you out Hatter, but when did KT say that EVERYONE questioning Cam's selection was because they were racist? Because I didn't read that anywhere at all. What I did read is him calling out people who did prejudge some things based on racial factors. And he's got a point, look at all the threads that delved into baselessly comparing Cam to one of the biggest busts in NFL history (Jamarcus Russell) for no tangible reason other than you know what. Or that there really were concerns that he would be in trouble with the law because of one incident that could easily be argued was a misunderstanding at age 19. I'd bump or link those threads, but I wouldn't want to get banned.

If it wasn't comparisons to Jamarcus or to "thugs" it was Cam's ability to "understand the playbook", even though he has never had a problem picking up an offense in a short amount of time. Keep in mind, that just about everybody scoffed (myself included) when rumors were that Matt Moore wasn't starting sooner in 2009 because of not being able to learn the playbook, even though he's looked at as a "smart" quarterback. So why were so many quick to believe that Cam couldn't learn or would take so many years to do it?

You want to question the transition of the spread offense to the NFL in terms of taking snaps under center and say his ability is raw, then that's different. I admittedly had some questions there myself, but not enough to pass on Cam after Luck said he wasn't declaring. That's a difference of opinion and at least one that was defensible. But you can't tell me that you can't see the difference of that opinion as to the simple minded blah blah Jamarcus blah blah criminal thug blah blah he can't learn response. blah blah Michael Vick. If you weren't guilty of that then why did KTs comments offend you?

[MadHatter]

Not trying to single you out Hatter, but when did KT say that EVERYONE questioning Cam's selection was because they were racist?

In pretty much every post he has made on the subject....including those in this thread.

He believes that ANYONE who questioned Cam did so becasue of the color of his skin.

[thefuzz]

Thats ridiculous and somewhat cowardly. Racism is very real and very alive. I was called a ****, *******, and etc... for most of my High School but i don't give a poo now. I sat in tables where white people would dap up black people and turn around and call them niggers when they leave. Once you leave HS its not as blatant though and becomes much more subtle.

I would say 1/3rd of the hate Cam received was racism, no doubt about it. Some of the people who disliked Cam were probably influenced by the racists. They questioned his intelligence for what reason? They said turn him into a RB for no reason other than he was black and he ran, lets be real about that one.

Jerry conservative? since when? I'm almost positive he came down himself and made the call to get Cam. He was the only guy that gave Ron Rivera a HC job and he didn't even interview anyone else. Ron should have gotten a HC job YEARS ago and was most likely only interviewed cause of the Rooney rule. To call Jerry or the organization conservative or racist is ridiculous.

JackofallTrades doesnt seem like a racist at all to me, he just wasn't a risk taker and im glad the god Jerry Richardson is.

Did you use a scientific method, or did you poll everyone who is a fan of the NFL and NCAA football?

[King Taharqa]

Hatter said Cam "was just a running QB", another "Jamarcus", called him a "thug", said the people who liked him didnt value character, and "that he had no business seeing the field" back durimg preseason because it would take him 3 years to understand the Panthers Tecmo Bowl playbook. Hatter knows he views african americans negatively. Whether its Cam, MJ, or Obama, whoever, if they are black Hatter spits venom. Always has, read his posts.

[Montsta]

I didn't want Cam, but it's got nothing to do with racism, and everything to do with my inability to judge college football talent. I wanted PP7 or Dareus. Very glad I was wrong though and after we drafted him I went and bought an authentic Newton blue alternate jersey. Sweet!

[chef17]

Not trying to single you out Hatter, but when did KT say that EVERYONE questioning Cam's selection was because they were racist? Because I didn't read that anywhere at all. What I did read is him calling out people who did prejudge some things based on racial factors. And he's got a point, look at all the threads that delved into baselessly comparing Cam to one of the biggest busts in NFL history (Jamarcus Russell) for no tangible reason other than you know what. Or that there really were concerns that he would be in trouble with the law because of one incident that could easily be argued was a misunderstanding at age 19. I'd bump or link those threads, but I wouldn't want to get banned.

If it wasn't comparisons to Jamarcus or to "thugs" it was Cam's ability to "understand the playbook", even though he has never had a problem picking up an offense in a short amount of time. Keep in mind, that just about everybody scoffed (myself included) when rumors were that Matt Moore wasn't starting sooner in 2009 because of not being able to learn the playbook, even though he's looked at as a "smart" quarterback. So why were so many quick to believe that Cam couldn't learn or would take so many years to do it?

You want to question the transition of the spread offense to the NFL in terms of taking snaps under center and say his ability is raw, then that's different. I admittedly had some questions there myself, but not enough to pass on Cam after Luck said he wasn't declaring. That's a difference of opinion and at least one that was defensible. But you can't tell me that you can't see the difference of that opinion as to the simple minded blah blah Jamarcus blah blah criminal thug blah blah he can't learn response. blah blah Michael Vick. If you weren't guilty of that then why did KTs comments offend you?

I'm 19. Throwing a stolen laptop out a window after cops catch you with it isn't a misunderstand.

And KT criticized me for supporting white QBs last year. Seems pretty racist to me.