Plays like Superman, but not acting like one

[Deebo]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There was a time when Cam Newton might have been made light of -- maybe even criticized -- for wearing a Superman T-shirt to a news conference like he did on Thursday. There was a time when the Carolina Panthers quarterback might have been called egotistical for comparing himself to the Man of Steel, particularly after beginning his NFL career with consecutive losing seasons. 

Now it seems accepted. 

Almost fitting. 

Maybe that's because Newton has taken his performance to superhero levels. Just look at a few of his numbers over the past 11 weeks heading into the regular-season finale in his hometown of Atlanta: 
 

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Chris O'MearaOver the past 11 weeks, few quarterbacks have played better than the Panthers' Cam Newton.

Record: 10-1. That's the best record of any quarterback in the league during that span. Next closest are San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick and Seattle's Russell Wilson at 8-2 (they had a bye week). Denver's Peyton Manning, considered the favorite to win the NFL's MVP award, is 7-3. 

Completion percentage: 63.9 percent. Manning is at 63.5 percent. New England's Tom Brady is at 62.5 percent.

Passer rating: 93.6. This for a quarterback whose rating the past two seasons was 84.5 and 86.2. It's not up there with Philadelphia's Nick Foles(118.3) during that stretch, but it's up there with the best. Brady is at 91.6. Kaepernick is at 94.1. 

Total QBR: 63.6. Only six quarterbacks have been higher during that span. 

Throw in last-minute, game-winning drives against New England, Miami and New Orleans -- the last of which clinched the team's first playoff berth since 2008 -- and Newton has even more reason to puff his chest. 

But he's not. 

And maybe that's why the Superman shirt isn't such a big deal. Newton doesn't come off as egotistical or arrogant, like he's pushing himself. He comes off as focused and committed to doing whatever it takes to win, whether it's the heroics he showed in the final minute of Sunday's 17-13 victory over the Saints or putting the ball in somebody else's hands to make the big play. 

So as he returns to Atlanta as a winning quarterback for the first time in his NFL career, it's not with a "look at what I've accomplished" attitude. It's about helping the Panthers get a win that would lock up the NFC South title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. 

"When I go back home, no one is starstruck," Newton said. "No one is a nonbeliever about who I am or what I do. I go to the same stores, I get my hair cut by the same barber. Nothing's really changed for me. The only thing that is different is the stories that may be different, with everyone saying what happened on this particular game." 

Don't get me wrong. Newton is excited about playing in Atlanta against the Falcons, his favorite team growing up. He looks forward to seeing a few old friends and loved ones. 

"But come game day and game time, I'll be locked and focused," he said. 

 

​more: http://espn.go.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/3413/newton-not-defined-by-superman

 

[mod edit: don't post entire articles. thanks.]

[SauceBoss]

I'm getting the popcorn ready for the comments on the espn page.

[The_Cannon]

Actually Superman was a pretty humble dude...just like Cam

[The Huddler]

I am so gd damn lucky Cam Newton is my quarterback. Only scratched the surface fellas. This feeing he here to stay..

[Jangler]

If you look in the dictionary under the word "Bitch" you will see a picture of a bruised and bleeding Superman, on his knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton in the Fortress of Solitude, while being slapped around. That is because all houses are Cam's house. If Cam Newton is in "your" house, YOU will be on your knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton because it is really Cam Newton's house,you bleeding bruised "Bitch"

 

 

 

 

 

metaphorically speaking

 

 

[Deebo]

If you look in the dictionary under the word "Bitch" you will see a picture of a bruised and bleeding Superman, on his knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton in the Fortress of Solitude, while being slapped around. That is because all houses are Cam's house. If Cam Newton is in "your" house, YOU will be on your knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton because it is really Cam Newton's house,you bleeding bruised "Bitch"

 

 

 

 

 

metaphorically speaking

What the.....F

[philp]

If you look in the dictionary under the word "Bitch" you will see a picture of a bruised and bleeding Superman, on his knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton in the Fortress of Solitude, while being slapped around. That is because all houses are Cam's house. If Cam Newton is in "your" house, YOU will be on your knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton because it is really Cam Newton's house,you bleeding bruised "Bitch"

metaphorically speaking

When I get old, I want to be prescribed opiates also.

[Kakarot]

The best player on our team. I'm so glad he's our QB. He's gotten better every year, and I look forward to him getting even better as the years progress.

[Gabeking]

If you look in the dictionary under the word "Bitch" you will see a picture of a bruised and bleeding Superman, on his knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton in the Fortress of Solitude, while being slapped around. That is because all houses are Cam's house. If Cam Newton is in "your" house, YOU will be on your knees, orally pleasuring Cam Newton because it is really Cam Newton's house,you bleeding bruised "Bitch"

metaphorically speaking

Correct

[B.BERSIN]

This attitude is critical for his success, I mean more success.

[PghPanther]

Cam's enthusiasm on and off the field borders on that of a man child.................but there is nothing wrong with that at his age right now.

 

I believe in time the showiness of his on field play will settle down but he is enjoying the passion of it for now and that is fine. As he becomes more of a leader he will set examples and some of that will settle down. Don't get me wrong.........Smitty is as big a leader you can get on the Panthers right now and retains that passion but he's a WR...........the QB position is different as you must be the executer of the strategies implemented on the field whereas the WR is the recipient of that action.

 

I'm confident that this opportunity to play in the post season will the be crucible that will shape Cam's leadership qualities and character further. I'd really like to have him talk with Dan Marino and/or Jack Delhomme about what it means to get to the playoffs/SB and seizing that opportunity.

[lightsout]

IDK how many QBs will literally run to corners of the endzone multiple times during a game just to get the fans into it more. The guy is trying his best to get BoA to be more like Jordan-Hare on game day. And it's slowly happening.

[FootballMaestro]

I'm getting the popcorn ready for the comments on the espn page.

It's via Facebook now (with peoples real names). So it's mostly positive, the last I saw. All of it was, to be exact. 

[Cat]

Media is so fuging annoying. They pick the narrative and go from there. The actual facts and reality be damned.

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