Cam Newton criticized while Matthew Stafford ignored

[Proudiddy]

And Wilbon and Kornheiser discussed this yesterday on PTI and both said Newton was the more troubling of the two...

And people say race plays no factor in it. It doesn't always but it definitely does in a lot of cases. Anyway, great article...

http://www.nfl.com/n...ign=Twitter_atl

Cam Newton criticized while Matthew Stafford ignored

Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford have both thrown five touchdowns and six interceptions this year. Both players were drafted with the No. 1 overall pick and play for teams expected to contend for the playoffs.

So why does it feel like Carolina Panthers QB Newton is getting roasted on a weekly basis while Detroit Lions QB Stafford's struggles slip under the radar?

We've watched almost every start from both quarterbacks this year on our trusty Game Rewind. There is no doubt in my mind Stafford is struggling more, although Newton's season is headed in the wrong direction.

Stafford's mechanics and accuracy have been erratic. He only puts drives together when the Lions are trailing and routinely has made poor decisions. Newton also continues to make critical mistakes -- especially in the red zone -- that hurt his team's chances of winning. He hasn't handled pass pressure as well as during his rookie year or made great decisions in Carolina's option running attack.

But it's too convenient to ignore that Newton still does a lot of things well. Newton is third in the league in yards-per-attempt. Stafford is 26th. Newton has 273 rushing yards (second among QBs) and three touchdowns. He's seventh among all rushers in runs over 20 yards and eighth among quarterbacks in throws over 20 yards. He's still been explosive, just not consistent.

This isn't to excuse Newton's struggles; he's taken a step back. But he's a 23-year old starting quarterback coming off perhaps the greatest rookie season in NFL history. The questions about whether he will "ever" get it are laughable. The volume of criticism sent his way instead of a fourth-year player like Stafford is troubling.

We can hear the arguments already: The criticism is more about Newton's demeanor and his press conferences than his play. Watch a Matthew Stafford press conference. Once you wake up, explain to me how many games he won with his messanging. Press conferences are overrated and the selective soundbite choices from Newton often ignore the main takeaway. He's a bad loser. It needs to get better. He's 23. As weaknesses go, I'll take it. It's about how a quarterback plays that matters.

Newton will play better. He continues to show way too many elite quarterback characteristics to just fall apart. Stafford, still only 24 years old, will play better too.

They are both young quarterbacks. This is what happens. It just doesn't make sense that Newton is being pilloried while Stafford's struggles are being ignored.

[Brooklyn Bully]

YAY, one of THESE threads again!

[PantherPhann89]

The media loves Cam...Everything he does will be either captured or talked about in the media. Cams expectation for this year was very, very high. Although I don't think that it's fault, not entirely anyway, but he hasn't been able to overcome it. On his behalf, I don't think that the playcalling has allowed him to be as productive as he was in his first season.

[Proudiddy]

I've been saying, he has shown signs of progression and improvement... It's the lack of consistency - not so much him, but of our offense, to stay on the field for extended drives... That's what is making us look and play a lot worse than what we are. All goes back to coaching.

Cam hasn't been perfect and he's had a few mistakes, but I'm tired of seeing people trash the guy who has been the sole reason we've even been competitive in the games we've played (minus the Giants).

[Growl]

Starting to see more and more of the media realize that criticism of Cam this season is way beyond a simple bit of news. They've realized there is an agenda against him.

People who trashed him prior to the draft have been waiting in the corner trying to find any excuse to tear him down again and give themselves some credibility back. You see more and more people starting to realize that, and in turn look deeper into Cam. Once you do that, you're forced to accept that "issues" the media has had with him have been so massively overblown you almost feel bad you went along with the haters to begin with.

[Johnny Rockets]

Cam is much more polarizing than Matthew Stafford. Matthew Stafford was ignored when he threw for 5,000 yds last year also. Stafford just isn't going to move the meter whether you talk about him good or bad.

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

because no ones ever given a poo about stafford. he threw for 5000 yards and 41 tds last year and didnt make the pro bowl for fugs sake.

he is the definition of boring. i wish the huddle would drop this social justice poo when it comes to newton. the media had its eyes on cam well before he was drafted, and its not going to change.

[mcdougal]

The media loves Cam...Everything he does will be either captured or talked about in the media. Cams expectation for this year was very, very high. Although I don't think that it's fault, not entirely anyway, but he hasn't been able to overcome it. On his behalf, I don't think that the playcalling has allowed him to be as productive as he was in his first season.

The expectation for Stafford was higher...So was it for Dalton...

No one questioned Stafford's season last year...In fact, if you were here on Monday, lot of posters here did not questioned Stafford's season and said he is legit...no questions...

Cam was questioned throughout the offseason...

[rayzor]

cam is just more interesting and has a higher ceiling...and he talks more. he's a higher profile guy. stafford is vanilla. just a boring person. he's just being ignored and forgoten because no one really cares about him except lions fans.

[Car123]

Blame the machine

[PantherPhann89]

The expectation for Stafford was higher...So was it for Dalton...

No one questioned Stafford's season last year...In fact, if you were here on Monday, lot of posters here did not questioned Stafford's season and said he is legit...no questions...

Cam was questioned throughout the offseason...

The media loves Cam...

[DaveThePanther2008]

Starting to see more and more of the media realize that criticism of Cam this season is way beyond a simple bit of news. They've realized there is an agenda against him.

People who trashed him prior to the draft have been waiting in the corner trying to find any excuse to tear him down again and give themselves some credibility back. You see more and more people starting to realize that, and in turn look deeper into Cam. Once you do that, you're forced to accept that "issues" the media has had with him have been so massively overblown you almost feel bad you went along with the haters to begin with.

Add Luck and RGIII as the new stories of the year doesn't help. I thnk Newton sees that the play calling is terrible. I think he sees that teams have figured out the read option and knows something needs to change. Yet when the press conference comes up he takes the heat. No doubt that he has made mistakes but all QBs make mistakes under pressure. Any QB is going to struggle with poor play calling. Especially if the same play is called over and over and it get stuffed. I think Rivera's days are numbered if he doesn't dosomething. As far as Stafford is concerned he should be under the microscope more than Newton.

[King Taharqa]

Matthew Stafford has a 72 million dollar contract. If he were black wed hear of his struggles a lot more.

[TylerVagyler]

If Stafford acted like Cam is his post-game pressers he might get more attention. Cam feeds to media with his bullsh*t after games.