Fantastic in depth article by Jeff Darlington about Cam's personality

[pantherking15]

Quote

"I think it's funny that the criticism is coming from the guys who have never played with him or the people who have never met him," tight end Greg Olsen said.

And yes, inside the Panthers' locker room, it is funny. It is funny to them because this criticism has taken on a life of its own across the NFL. People, it seems, aren't just waiting for Newton to do something controversial. They're searching for it instead.

So who is Newton? And how should you feel about him? Well, that's certainly up to each individual to decide, but those inside the Panthers' locker room very clearly and very adamantly don't view him in the same way as many others do. They see the same person as those on the outside -- but they say they recognize the intentions and the context.

"I enjoy him coming to work every day and being the person he is," Harper said. "He brings energy and life to this locker room. He is who he is. He has the juice when we need the juice.

"It's good to have guys who are young and vibrant -- guys who know it's OK to be themselves."

Harper remembers the first time he realized he was wrong about Newton. The quarterback was walking through the locker room, singing "Walk Thru" by Rich Homie Quan: "I be feeling like the man when I walk through!"

Funny, isn't it? Newton singing some very self-involved lyrics caused Harper to view him as something other than selfish. But as Harper explains it, that's exactly the point: When you're around Newton every day, you realize his personality is fun and genuine and far from malicious or fake, even when he's singing a song that sounds straight-up cocky.

That's precisely the reason Panthers coach Ron Rivera also defends Newton's actions and his on-field celebrations: Those who believe he's being malicious or unsportsmanlike aren't watching closely enough. This is a matter of intent, he says.

"I saw it right off the bat," Rivera said. "Watch him when he's handing out the football to a fan after he scores. He's not concerned about the opponent. He's looking for that right little kid to give the football to. He's looking for the right kid."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000593136/article/cam-newtons-polarizing-persona-beloved-by-carolina-panthers

[pantherking15]

Awesome front page headline. IMO Cam is one of the most misunderstood players in the history of sports. And nowadays, misconceptions spread like wildfire because of social media.

[CarolinaSunday]

Sheer joy just radiates off that man's face when he's playing and having fun. I've never understood how people could look at his grin and see someone being fake. 

[FootballMaestro]

Didn't read it yet.

But isn't this article about 2 weeks too late?

It seems like lots of people like Cam (especially now), minus the usual entrenched/inbred haterz!

But in reality, he's quite popular.

[GRWatcher]

There will always be someone not liking something & being vocal about it. Especially in sports. What I don't get is the depth of hate that some express. Having hate for anything/anyone is a slow death dance. It's destructive. I just do not understand that. 

Even in the face of fear or the unknown, hate is never the right response.

[Captain Obvious]

good article. Darlington should Dab.  I love Cam.

[PanthersATL]

and of all the things he's passionate about off the field?  Lucky Charms tops his list.  Other superstar millionaires who could have anything they want - cars, cars, houses, etc -- and all Cam wants to do to make himself happy is hunker down with a big bowl of cereal.

That's humble and joy, humble and joy.

[Semaj]

The TRUTH

[Cookie Lyon]

Cam is polarizing because some people don't have a mind of their own and let the media tell them what to think and do. I understand everyone isn't going to like him, but it's annoying seeing people reach to the depths of hell to hate.

What the media says the majority of the time isn't true, but a lot of people take what they say as gospel. Cam is also polarizing because he has proved every last one of his haters, including the resident idiots on this very site WRONG! Many people thought he was going to be a bust just because the media said so which I thought was ridiculous.

The Cam hate reminds me of the hate LeBron received and still receives to this day because of the Decision show. The show was ESPN's idea and LeBron agreed to do it. I didn't hear anything negative about him doing the show until AFTER he announced his decision and then ESPN and fans turned against him. I understood Cleveland fans turning their backs on him when he left, but they went WAY overboard with it.

Anyway, you haters can keep on hating. It's your loss.

[Panfan35]

For me you can look at positives and build someone up or look at the negatives and try to tear someone down, which is what the media has done since cam was drafted. But it took cam and the panthers to be the last undefeated team in the league to get off his junk and build him up and say the things that panther fans already know but it's nice to finally hear and see it in print. 

A icon cam newton is.... One week cam does a dance then gets criticized by the media for it the the whole wide world of sports is doing it,just incredible. I have waited since 95 to have a season like this soak it in boys and girls.

[KJ89]

Times are changing. 

[L-TownCat]

I think the only time Cam stops smiling is on the bench early in games and pre-snap.  Give him the ball and he's happier than Jim Neighbors with a wheelbarrow full of butt-holes.

[FootballMaestro]

4 minutes ago, L-TownCat said:

I think the only time Cam stops smiling is on the bench early in games and pre-snap.  Give him the ball and he's happier than Jim Neighbors with a wheelbarrow full of butt-holes.

Oh My God (or Golllllllly)!

Where do we go from here? LOL

Did he ever come out, or this is just an assumption? Cause, back in the day they kept that stuff deathly secret.

[L-TownCat]

1 minute ago, FootballMaestro said:

Oh My God (or Golllllllly)!

Where do we go from here? LOL

Did he ever come out, or this is just an assumption? Cause, back in the day they kept that stuff deathly secret.

From what I understand (word on the street) it's pretty widely accepted he pursued an alternative lifestyle.