NFL Exec.: Cam Would Be Clear-Cut #1, If He Were White (And Other Valuable Nuggets)

[TylerDurden]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NFL&id=6491&line=202507&spln=1

A "high-ranking" NFL executive insists that Cam Newton would be the draft's clear-cut No. 1 overall pick if he was white.

"If Newton were white, he’d be the first pick in the draft," said the exec, who arrived at this conclusion before Newton adviser Warren Moon accused the 2010 Heisman winner's detractors of being racially charged. We won't go as far as Moon, but comparisons to JaMarcus Russell would seem to come dangerously close to blatant racism. Russell and Newton have few similarities as players and athletes. They do have the same skin color. Apr. 3 - 12:38 pm et

and this...

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-1492.html

*Warren Moon isn’t the only person who thinks race may be a factor in the way the NFL world is perceiving Cam Newton. A high ranking NFL executive, who is white, came to the same conclusion before Moon made his comments. “If Newton were white, he’d be the first pick in the draft,” he said.

So, many detractors here can't discredit a white guy saying that like many did for Moon saying it.

Not so much to keep up the race debate, but this also kind of feeds off of the PFT crap from last week with Nawrocki. But I think it's only fair to put it out there with all the incendiary negative stuff that keeps getting pushed to give us both perspectives. And as Hurney said, apparently the people at PFT didn't talk to him before their "analysis."

The NFP article goes on to mention several other interesting things as well:

*Da’Quan Bowers looked out of shape at his workout, according to NFL scouts who were witnesses. One said he probably would have been better served not working out at all prior to the draft. But the workout won’t hurt Bowers in the draft. What is a much bigger threat to hurt Bowers is NFL teams believe he has a serious knee issue. Unless his physical exam at the combine recheck next weekend shows a healthier joint, Bowers could drop in the second half of the first round.

*Mike Florio’s report about one highly regarded prospect failing a drug test at the combine is spot on, according to front office men I’ve spoken with. But some of those men also have told me the player who flunked might not be hurt much by the test. Other high profile players—reportedly Percy Harvin, Brandon Tate and Aqib Talib, among others--have failed tests at the combine in recent years and did not fall precipitously in the draft. Many, many other players have failed tests at their schools. It’s a little different at the combine when they know the test is coming. But NFL teams believe so many kids are smoking grass that they can’t beat them up too badly for it.

And the third quarterback really is up for grabs. Newton will be the third on some boards. On other boards, he’ll be lower still. Other players who will be ranked third by various teams include Jake Locker, Ryan Mallet and Christian Ponder.

On draft day, some of those players could be jumped by Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, or maybe even Ricky Stanzi.

“The all have holes in them,” an NFC director of college scouting said. “So it will be beauty in the eye of the beholder.”

Despite the fact that all of them have holes in them, they aren’t supposed to last long on draft day. It’s starting to look like all eight could be gone by the end of round three. “Teams that think they’ll get the quarterback they want in the second round could be in for a rude awaking,” the director said. “Teams could be trading up to late first round for those guys.”

Because no league-wide consensus has been reached on these players, what happens late in the process is likely to carry a lot of weight. That means quarterbacks coaches and offensive coordinators could be more influential than usual. And these late visits with teams could be the deciding factor in a lot of cases.

“Smart teams will have a playbook with them on the visits with these guys,” an AFC personnel director said. “They’ll see how much these guys know and how quickly they can figure things out, and they could base decisions on that if things are close.”

I was starting to get this feeling that because no one can come to an agreement unanimously where these guys are on their boards that a lot of teams are going to be reaching up early to get them. This draft is so muddled at QB... I've said before, I thought Dalton and/or Ponder are going to surprise a lot of people and would be a steal in the 3rd, and now, this is saying it's possible none of them will be there in the 3rd, lol.

[Zod]

As much as I hate to say it, its very possible.

[King Taharqa]

Proudiddy, whats the exec's name so we can have him banned from our board? :smile:

[Zcustom]

haha this draft is so QB poor the top 8 prospects might be gone by the 3rd round, how funny

[GritsRgreat]

One day, a black man WILL be drafted with the number one pick. How this has never happened before is reprehensible in this day and age.

[Zod]

One day, a black man WILL be drafted with the number one pick. How this has never happened before is reprehensible in this day and age.

To deny there is a legitimate bias against black QBs in the NFL is to plead ignorance.

[Mr. Scot]

To deny there is a legitimate bias against black QBs in the NFL is to plead ignorance.

What is it to assume that every source who's said something bad about him to journalists and analysts is white?

[countryboi]

holy poo not this can of worms

[Mvp2014]

To deny there is a legitimate bias against black QBs in the NFL is to plead ignorance.

they are in business and numbers dont lie. How many good black qbs have come out in the last decade? Maybe, just maybe, Cam and Freeman will start the revolution

[OneBadassCat]

If he were white he wouldn't be in the top 8. He'd be just another The Golden Calf of Bristol project.

[Mvp2014]

What is it to assume that every source who's said something bad about him to journalists and analysts is white?

:idea:

[GritsRgreat]

To deny there is a legitimate bias against black QBs in the NFL is to plead ignorance.

Sorry i just don't see it, maybe back in the 80's.

[Millions]

This is 100% accurate his off the field stuff was 3 years ago based off his accolades/stats in college alone there is no way he shouldn't be the first QB taken and the clear cut best prospect with his upside/stats. When you consider the QB position is the most important position in the NFL today.

People will bring up The Golden Calf of Bristol but Cam is a more natural passer than The Golden Calf of Bristol coming out his passing has been very underrated by many because of his legs. When you have guys like Gabbert, Locker rated over someone that had a season like Cam did it points to racial bias.

[Davidson Deac II]

Its hard to say if thats true. It could be that if he were white and threw as poorly as he did in workouts, he might be a fourth round pick.