Panthers Bringing in Newton for Visit

[TylerDurden]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

BOO YAH!

Most notably: A “few” of the 8-10 players the Panthers are targeting for their No. 1 pick are quarterbacks.

Rivera spoke glowingly of former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, whom the Panthers plan to bring to Charlotte for a private visit. Other quarterback prospects also will be flown in, although Rivera did not specify which ones.

Rivera compared the 6-6, 250-pound Newton to several first-round quarterbacks who have had success.

“You look at the size of these guys. They're all big men. You look at Ben Roethlisberger, a Matt Ryan, a Joe Flacco. Cam's got those types of physical attributes,” Rivera said.

“He's a tall, powerful young man. He's got great athletic ability. He might be the better athlete of all of them (current QB prospects). But again, the one thing he does have is he's got a great arm. And he's a winner. You go back to his junior college and his college days, you can't pass that up, either. We've got to explore. There's eight, 9, 10 guys that we're looking at. We're going to explore all avenues with everybody.”

Rivera said the need for a franchise quarterback was part of his discussions with general manager Marty Hurney when Rivera was interviewing for the job.

[TheRealDeal]

Boo Yah what?

They said they are looking at 7-10 players and they will likely bring all of them in

[The Saltman]

no surprise here

[Dpantherman]

Other quarterback prospects also will be flown in, although Rivera did not specify which ones.

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

[TylerDurden]

Boo Yah what?

They said they are looking at 7-10 players and they will likely bring all of them in

Edited above for "boo yah!"

[The Saltman]

he better say those things. Thats still not surprising.

[mav1234]

We have a thread on this interview already, perhaps a merger is in order? or a subject change for the other thread and merger into this one?

http://reederstake.freedomblogging.com/2011/02/24/rivera-addresses-questions-about-no-1-pick-at-nfl-scouting-combines/8491/ has the full transcript, which is slightly less newton-favorable than the quips by the reporters, since he tends to stress looking at multiple players over and over.

Clear they like Newton's physical stats though, which is no surprise.

[TylerDurden]

But DG did say Newton was the only player he mentioned by name, I think that is worth mentioning here.

[Mr. Scot]

Marty Hurney and John Fox took LenDale White out to dinner just to talk privately to him...then drafted DeAngelo Williams.

Getting excited over pre-draft talk and shenanigans is kind of like getting hyped listening to your sister tell you about the blind date she set you up with.

[The Saltman]

I want us to draft cam newton too but almost 60% of the questions dealt with Cam Newton. Ron Rivera is not John Fox and answers questions much more honestly and open which is why u heard his name more. I doubt he would have brought his name up as much if most of the questions werent about him.

[Darth Biscuit]

Yeah, this means nothing... I would be disappointed if they didn't bring him in.

[mav1234]

exactly, Salty.

There is a good chance he's the top QB they're looking at, but I caution everyone who wants him to not get too excited, because there is way too much time in the process left. He simply answers the questions put to him - and in a way to let other teams know if they want Cam Newton, they better consider the fact he may be gone even at #2. :P

[SOJA]

god I hope there is a bidding war for the number one pick

[The Saltman]

I am just happy we have a coach that is open to talk about what he wants to talk about and is not vague about every fuking thing. But I would prefer a coach that can win over that tho.