Ex-teammate: Derek Anderson not a mentor

[Razeyfingers]

ESPN National blogs

Ex-teammate: Derek Anderson not a mentor

August, 4, 2011

Aug 4

12:16

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By Pat Yasinskas

It’s kind of ironic that right after the Carolina Panthers brought in Derek Anderson partly to serve as a mentor for Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen, a former teammate said the quarterback refused to take on that role last year.

In a radio interview with KTAR Radio in Phoenix, Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton said he got no help from Anderson or Matt Leinart when he was a rookie last year. Skelton was asked if Anderson and Leinart reached out to help him last season.

“To be honest, no they didn’t,’’ Skelton said.

Skelton wound up starting late last season after Anderson and Leinart both struggled.

“Derek and Matt in camp kind of did their own thing," Skelton said. "They were established guys. They'd been around. They knew the ropes. They kind of had their own agendas.’’

With Anderson and Leinart both out of Arizona and Kevin Kolb on board, Skelton said things are better this year.

“I think the chemistry in the quarterback room alone is 10 times better than it was last year,’’ Skelton said.

Woh Im blown away by that. :cuss:

[Cat'sGrowl]

He isn't here to mentor. He is here to know the playbook.

[Razeyfingers]

fair enough, might not even be the whole truth, but still . . .

[Jackofalltrades]

I think most of us had that concern when we heard the Panthers were interested in him.

We don't know the expectations of him while in Az, but my understanding is that he was told, very clearly, that his role here is to be a mentor.

I'm sure his familiarity with Chud was a huge deciding factor, but this is why I wanted Jake back, this is a role he'd be perfect for at this stage of his career.

[armistice]

I thought we all knew that Anderson wasn't mentor worthy?

[SOJA]

Honestly after that one interview the guy seems like kind of a jackass, this isn't really surprising. I would be worried if it was only :jc:, but I think Cam is man enough to hold his own

[ThePantherDude]

Anderson was supposed to start in Arizona if Leinart failed. Well imo Anderson knew that if he helped mentor his competition he might get be out. I don't blame the guy he was in a competition. Here he is not, that and he knows the lingo which is key.

[lightsout]

It isn't difficult. It's Arizona. Derek Anderson isn't the greatest thing ever, but he's better than Leinart and Skelton and he knew it. They all sucked, don't get me wrong, but Anderson just has something about him I like. And I think he was just bitter. Or he's a total dick. Not sure.

Either way, I want him in a mentor role here or to play better than Cam and Jimmy combined (given his track record, that is impossible).

[Swarly]

What did you guys expect him to teach Cam & Jimmy? How to overthrow wide open receivers by 10 yards? How to rocket a ball over the middle a few feet over the head of an exposed receiver, getting him rocked by a safety/LB? How to remain calm when asked questions in press conferences?

I'm pretty mad they signed him to be honest. I'd 1000% prefer to have Matt Moore here.

[Seamonk]

Pro tip: Anderson was there to win his job last year. And he's here to push both Clausen and Cam. You don't have to sit down with someone and talk things through to be a mentor, you just have to be somebody to push someone forward.

[ED-209]

Honestly after that one interview the guy seems like kind of a jackass, this isn't really surprising. I would be worried if it was only :jc:, but I think Cam is man enough to hold his own

yeah

i

agree.

[Dpantherman]

I think most of us had that concern when we heard the Panthers were interested in him.

We don't know the expectations of him while in Az, but my understanding is that he was told, very clearly, that his role here is to be a mentor.

I'm sure his familiarity with Chud was a huge deciding factor, but this is why I wanted Jake back, this is a role he'd be perfect for at this stage of his career.

This is the big difference here to me. He went into Arizona's season as starter. Hes coming to Carolina in a completely different role. That is his purpose. If the team didn't think he understood his role, then he wouldn't have been signed.

[Dpantherman]

What did you guys expect him to teach Cam & Jimmy?

the playbook

[Jangler]

Yeah, he wanted the job in Arizona...why help the competition? He knows coming to Carolina he is not the future.