Let me preface this post byacknowledging my bias for Cam Newton & my hometown team, the CarolinaPanthers. However, I guarantee that I have done thorough research & backedup my opinions with facts (as always).
Cam Newton is a 23-year-old, 2nd-yearstarting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers; the franchise player who wasbrought in to turn around a team that has had it’s fair share of ups &downs during it’s 17-year existence (We had a 1-15 record in 2001 but made itto the Superbowl 3 years later in 2004). He is a new breed of quarterback, throwinglong passes to Steve Smith and Brandon Lafell as well as running the ball for first downs and touchdowns.
He has won on every level so far...in high school, at Blinn College & a Division-1 national championship at Auburn...so clearly he is not used tolosing, nor does he like it. When you have done nothing but win for the past few years and become accustomed to it, it takes a while to getpast that and keep working. Cam Newton does just that: each week, he goes back in to watch film and practice hard to prepare for the next game.
Maturity is something that comes with experience and while I agreethat Cam does need to grow up, again he is only 23 and I know some people OLDER then him who are not mature. The pressure of being the Heisman Trophy winner,#1 draft pick, and franchise player may be something that takes him a while to get usedto and deal with. However, that does NOT mean that he can't or won't deal with it. I hear sportswriters and commentators (and bloggers...LOL) talk about he's not mature but it may take some time to loosen up and get that monkey off your back to win.
I am a former athlete &understand the most important thing with both players and franchises inprofessional sports is WINNING. That’s why the praise for Cam has gone down andthe criticism of him has gone up, especially when he does his “Superman”touchdown celebration when the team is losing.
But as the leader of the team, he is going to face criticism regardless. If he were to blame the defenseor coaching staff for a loss, the fans and media (both local and national)criticize him and say that he is “pouting”.
However, when he takes the blameand makes it known that he is not happy, he’s criticized as well. They say thathe pouts on the bench with a Gatorade towel on head seeming to symbolize thathe doesn’t want to be bothered by teammates and coaches, but Gatorade is hissponsor so that might be as far as that goes. It’s like Cam Newton is dammed ifhe does and damned if he doesn’t. Football is a TEAM sport and the entire TEAM,including coaching staff, need to be held accountable for losses.
He made a BIG debut last year withtwo 400+ yard games in the first two games of his NFL career and broke allkinds of rookie and quarterback records. However, the team’s 6-10 record leftmuch to be desired from fans and the media. They didn’t win those games when hebroke the records & he was criticized for it. His numbers went downdramatically in the following weeks but they won a couple games. He was stillcriticized for his numbers going down. It’s like he can’t win (bothfiguratively and literally). Some of the top NFL quarterbackswith Super bowl rings did not have this much pressure & this much to liveup to (winning the Heisman Trophy and National championship in the same season,being the #1 pick and franchise quarterback for a rebuilding team). Tom Bradyhas three Superbowl rings but he clearly had a chip on his shoulder after hewas drafted by the New England Patriots 6th round in 2000. BenRoethlisberger won in his 2nd season, Peyton Manning in his 9thseason and Eli Manning won in his 4th season. However, Eli had the influence of an NFL father (Archie Manning) & brother Peyton behind him to be a winner. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees were both in the NFL at least 5seasons before they won their first ring. So to question whether Cam is overrated or if he will win a Superbowl ring is CRAZY!!!!!
What we have to understand assports fans is that athletes are human beings too and what they do in theirpersonal lives is none of our business. Cam Newton playing video games on his byeweek did not bother me because it is his business. Any other 23-year-old youngman would play video games in his free time if he wanted to and there wouldn’tbe a problem.
So what I'm saying is...Give Cam a BREAK!!!!! He has the potential to be GREAT and just needs time to mature, grow, and improve himself and his game. I am a DIEHARD Panthers' fan and I will still be there every week to cheer my team and quarterback on for them to WIN!!!!!
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