Charlotte Observer: Fact or Fiction

[pantherfan81]

Cam Newton comes to town this week for the job interview that could make him the first pick in this month's NFL draft.

He'll talk football with the Carolina Panthers, who own that pick, but perhaps as many of the questions will be about off-the-field topics. From controversies at each college stop to scouting reports that border on personal attacks, Newton has always been in the eye of the storm, for reasons that only occasionally involve his play.

The Panthers have to decide if the potential payoff is worth the alleged risk.

"They want to know everything; They want to know who I really am," Newton said when asked what teams want to see when he makes in-house visits. "During this whole process, I've done a lot of explaining of who I really am. And I'm extremely comfortable with that, because I know this is a multi-million dollar investment, and they have to know who they're picking.

"You know, it's fun, and I look forward to talking to team after team about who I really am."

Who that is depends on who you listen to.

Former coaches describe him as a grinder and a leader. Critics call him a thief and a phony. Game tape shows a different kind of athlete, a quarterback who could change the way the position is played.

When he arrives in Charlotte on Tursday, he'll have a chance to state his case, including during a meeting with owner Jerry Richardson.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/02/2192205/newton-fact-or-fiction.html#ixzz1IPsSp8DZ

[mav1234]

Am I the only one that doesn't see Cam Newton "redefining" the quarterback position, even if he becomes an elite QB?

[jtnc]

If the big man likes him, then he will be the pick.

[Jackofalltrades]

Am I the only one that doesn't see Cam Newton "redefining" the quarterback position, even if he becomes an elite QB?

No, you're certainly not alone in that.

[Jackofalltrades]

If the big man likes him, then he will be the pick.

Big man already said he doesn't make those decisions.

[jtnc]

I'm expecting they plan to do this with Gabbert and Dareus, right? the final interview?

[mav1234]

yup. and mallett too if rumor holds... which it may not.

[teeray]

Should we change the name of the Charlotte Observer to the Hugger Observer?? :party:

[jtm]

Big man already said he doesn't make those decisions.

Of course he does - just not officially.

[Mr. Scot]

Am I the only one that doesn't see Cam Newton "redefining" the quarterback position, even if he becomes an elite QB?

People have been throwing that idea around for years, and it's never happened. And these days, with the rules changed to heavily favor passing, I strongly doubt that it ever will.

[teeray]

There are reasons bigger than Cam Newton that are redefining the QB position. In 20 years there will be more Cam Newtons than Andrew Lucks in the NFL. It has a lot more to do with the changes to college football offenses and the willingness or even necessity to have athletes at the QB position.

Even pro style schools like UNC have changed their recruiting to target more athletes at the position.

Pretty soon the NFL will have little choice but to evolve because the amount of classical pocket passers available will be diminished.

20 years ago almost all college QBs were drop back passers. Now they are a rarity.

Even Andrew Luck is a more mobile type QB.

I could write 20 pages on this but I will cut it off there. :p

[mav1234]

Why do you think that being a mobile QB is somehow redefining the position?

[mav1234]

btw, do you think that defenses are staying static or something? they're getting bigger, faster, smarter too.

[teeray]

Why do you think that being a mobile QB is somehow redefining the position?

I don't think mobile quarterbacks are redefining the position as much as the position in college is evolving to where the premium is on mobile QBs.

An athlete with Cam Newton's attributes would have never played QB 20 years ago. He would have become a reciever or a TE. Not that he isn't a capable QB but an athlete like that back then would be more beneficial to the team at another position.

But as offenses continue to evolve in college there is more emphasis on athletic QBs. Before long there will be more athletes at QB like Cam than traditional drop back passers like Mallett. I am not implying drop back passers will become obsolete, but there will be less of them bc there is less demand for them in the college game.

Then if Luck busts you will see a big change on how the QB position is evaluated in the future.

Again these are just cliff notes. It would take several pages to make my case.