Cam's Q&A at Rookie Premiere

[jtnc]

What’s it like to see yourself on a card?

“It’s somewhat of a surreal moment to see yourself on a card, but at the same time, you can’t get complacent, because it’s one thing to be on a card, and it’s another thing to have your card have value.”

Do you have any idea what you’re cards are worth right now?

“I thought you were gonna tell me…”

It’s a lot.

“For real? What’s a lot?”

I think one just sold for about $350.

“Whoo! Heck no! Quite frankly, I’m about to doggone renegotiate my contract with Panini. For real, it’s something that every kid dreams about. I was just wiling to see myself on Sports Illustrated. Now I have the opportunity to see myself on a card? On posters? That’s cool. That’s crazy.”

Did you used to collect?

“Collect them, no. But I used to get them; I remember numerous times when I had lots of cards. But I was organized enough at a young age to say I’m going to collect these.”

Have you had your “Welcome to the NFL” moment? For a lot of people, this is it, putting on the jersey really for the first time…

“Every time I get to that checkpoint, I feel like I have to get to another checkpoint in terms of me feeling like I’ve made it to the NFL. It’s one thing to be in the NFL and it’s one thing to make an impact on a team in the NFL, and that’s what I’m striving for.”

Do you automatically revert back to that “rookie” mentality when you get to the NFL? You had a great season, a ton of accolades – do you try to keep that momentum going into the League?

“You have to keep that swagger. For me to have that unique swagger, I think that’s what makes me different from another athlete. I’m always going to have confidence in myself. Often times, I see people trying to critique the kind of person I am – they always get mistaken about my confidence as far as cockiness. I looked up growing up at guys like Muhammad Ali, Deion Sanders, those guys. They weren’t arrogant – they were just confident in their ability. Confidence comes from being very prepared for the given moment.”

Source: http://www.beckett.com/news/2011/05/beckett-football-rookie-premiere-qa-carolina-panthers-qb-cam-newton/

[bleys]

"Confidence comes from being very prepared for the given moment.”

truth.

[Edward Teach]

Is he drawing stick figure cartoons on that card?

[jtnc]

truth.

Something Clausen never had.

[teeray]

He should've answered every question with a "Whatchu think?"

[teeray]

Aaaaand all that will come of that to the national media is "Cam Newton compares himself to Deion Sanders and Muhammad Ali. Does he really get it? Keyshawn what do you think."

:nonod:

:cam:

[Tarheels23]

Aaaaand all that will come of that to the national media is "Cam Newton compares himself to Deion Sanders and Muhammad Ali. Does he really get it? Keyshawn what do you think."

:nonod:

:cam:

Florio is already on it!

Quarterback Cam Newton, the first overall pick in the 2011 draft who recently defended his swagger by invoking men like Muhammad Ali and Deion Sanders, will get a chance to justify his confidence next week, when he takes the field with his Carolina teammates for the first time

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/24/cam-newton-will-work-out-with-panthers-players-next-week/

[rayzor]

you can’t get complacent, because it’s one thing to be on a card, and it’s another thing to have your card have value.”

this is as much a resounding theme as the confidence he has in himself. he realizes that he has to work to live up to expectations.

[MadHatter]

Aaaaand all that will come of that to the national media is "Cam Newton compares himself to Deion Sanders and Muhammad Ali. Does he really get it? Keyshawn what do you think."

:nonod:

:cam:

I think he DOES get it. He has very honest and good intentions with his statements. However, some come across a little strange.

He needs to understand that the media is going to be all over every word he says. Sometimes less is more....don't give them anything to question you on. Keep you head down and work hard....the rest will take care of itself.

[teeray]

I think he DOES get it. He has very honest and good intentions with his statements. However, some come across a little strange.

He needs to understand that the media is going to be all over every word he says. Sometimes less is more....don't give them anything to question you on. Keep you head down and work hard....the rest will take care of itself.

Yeah. But that is hard on a 21 year old. I mean presidential candidates can't do that and they are political professionals.

But you are right he brings a lot of it on himself. I think the media should just cool off. He is a 21 year old kid that everyone wants to interview. In the process he may say some silly things.

[panthers55]

I think he DOES get it. He has very honest and good intentions with his statements. However, some come across a little strange.

He needs to understand that the media is going to be all over every word he says. Sometimes less is more....don't give them anything to question you on. Keep you head down and work hard....the rest will take care of itself.

I think that comes from experience and listening to the veterans on the team. Unfortunately he doesn't have that luxury at present. He surely isn't going to get the "be humble" speech from his agents who are doing everything to hype him and probably like those kind of brash statements.

[MadHatter]

I think that comes from experience and listening to the veterans on the team. Unfortunately he doesn't have that luxury at present. He surely isn't going to get the "be humble" speech from his agents who are doing everything to hype him and probably like those kind of brash statements.

Excellent points.

I think the kid has a lot of potential. The media are freaking jackals when it comes to trying to "create" a story.

[rayzor]

Yeah. But that is hard on a 21 year old. I mean presidential candidates can't do that and they are political professionals.

But you are right he brings a lot of it on himself. I think the media should just cool off. He is a 21 year old kid that everyone wants to interview. In the process he may say some silly things.

i don't think it's going to bother him much. i mean he rode through a lot worse last year and it didn't seem to phase him except in the sense it fueled him. he seems to be someone who can keep all that stuff in the right perspective. lots of people cave when they start getting negative attention in the pros...i mean look at vince young. the dude got nothing but praise his whole life but then when people started beating up on him he ran away. he didn't really have confidence in himself. newton seems to have tons of it. confidence like that doesn't get shaken very much.

I think that comes from experience and listening to the veterans on the team. Unfortunately he doesn't have that luxury at present. He surely isn't going to get the "be humble" speech from his agents who are doing everything to hype him and probably like those kind of brash statements.

i don't want him to get that "be humble" speech. i don't want jake delhomme v.2.

i like that he has that confidence that sanders and ali have/had. i want him to keep it. they didn't rest on past successes. they just kept going out time after time and proving that they are right to have it. it's all about proving to yourself and the world that you are the best. you fight to get there and get respect and then you fight to keep it. i've got faith that he will. screw false humility. that swagger and confidence is a huge part of what makes him good. thats something i don't want to change.

[TheRealDeal]

I still wish he wouldn't pay so much attention to what "people" say.

He just needs to worry about being himself and not worrying so much about what others are saying about him.