Making the push

I have no problem with him mugging for the camera or doing commercials. No one gives Rogers shit because he does a billion of those awful discount double check commercials all the time, or because he does the world champion title pose....

I just want Cam to work on the little things.

He has come forward. For anyone to suggest otherwise, and I haven't seen that happen necessarily, would be disingenuous at best. He's a better locker room guy, better in his pressers, a better player, and he is growing.

 

FWIW... Steve fuckin Smith did say he is watching Cam Newton grow into a man. Could just be "the company line" but he did put that out there.

 

The only Panther who hasn't grown into a man is Captain Munnerlyn.

 

There are opinions and then there are my opinions.

 

Occasionally noticing that someone is covered and he should go to his next progression isn't "reading defenses." Reading defenses means understanding what the coverage is and therefore who should be open before looking. It's a rare trait, so it's not like Cam is somehow unusual in that deficiency. But it's something great quarterbacks can do that Newton can't.

That's part of the play design.


I think sometimes people get the wrong impression from my criticism of players. It's not a question of affection with me. I don't like or dislike Cam any more than I liked or disliked Delhomme. Cam is an asset for the Panthers, but it's frustrating to watch his limitations and a seeming indifference to those because he could be so much better than he currently is. And with what I assure you will be a record-setting contract looming, whether or not Cam ever shows the desire to improve is a very important question.

 

He also praised Shula and bashed Chudzinski. Steve is "trenches" guy who will always back the people on his team, at least when he isn't sucker-punching them.

 

Commercials and hosting SNL come with the territory, but players like Rodgers and Manning take care of their game first. That stuff isn't their priority. For Cam, fame is his overriding priority and football is simply his means of achieving it. I also have never seen either of them mug for the camera on the sidelines even once the way that Cam does with regularity.

 

But we are all still outsiders making opinions opinions only. When it comes to the character of ANY person, unless we know them personally, we're just really guessing. And I don't mean as far as Cam's mechanics, reads etc. Just strictly who Cam really is, and how much he puts into the career he chose. I don't sit at BOA's player entrance and see how many days & hours Cam spends there - coaches say he's spending way more time there, watching a lot more film. But we don't know. Players other then Smitty have praised Cam's new commitment and growth. Might be party line, but I suspect there is some truth to it. Smitty has never been very reserved about what he says and thinks.

While we have some great players, I think this team is over achieving to some degree, and I think some of that comes from a special feeling/chemistry/whatever - yeah that damn passion thing. Offensively that has to include the QB since aside from "trick plays" every play starts with him. If Cam was absolutely an all about me jerk, I just don't see the rest of the offense pushing themselves to go above and beyond. I just see a lot of driven people - or maybe they all just have great speech writers and say the right things.

Somewhat like our first team back in 95/96 - there's something going on behind the scenes that's making some "magic" (over achieving, whatever), and you don't get that with a leader who doesn't give two shits about the rest of the players.

 

Cam is a part of our success, not the driving force behind it. There's nothing wrong with admitting that.

 

I heard Mick on the radio this week stating that Newton was in the building before and after everybody most everyday (even when others weren't or he didn't have to be there). Now what Newton does there could be questionable.