There have been few number one overall draft picks as polarizing as Cam Newton. Newton’s supporters believed that his physical skills outweighed any misgivings about his lack of experience and character concerns. His detractors questioned how well Cam would transition from a college offense to a more complex pro-style. After last year’s dazzling rookie season it seemed that Cam had put all criticisms to rest.
Cam looks the part, 6’5 245 with a body chiseled from granite and a smile that would make any move star jealous. Cam’s abilities and charm have caused many to overlook inconvenient truths about the young quarterback.
Humans have a tendency to be blinded by amazing talent. We loved Tiger, Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson despite their very deep character flaws, the more talent a person has the more we are willing to ignore their shortcomings and celebrate their gifts. If we look very closely the signs with Cam were always there, he was thrown out of the University of Florida for stealing a laptop. At the University of Auburn he was involved in a pay for play scandal that still leave some wondering how he remained eligible. Some blame Cam’s father for the later offense and even if that’s true, if Cam was raised by a man with questionable character is it possible that some of that rubbed off on him?
During draft time Cam’s defenders shooed away all criticism of their boy wonder by accusing them of racism. Former Houston Oilers Quarterback Warren Moon led the charge “"A lot of the criticism he's receiving is unfortunate and racially based.”
During a now infamous segment of John Gruden’s Qb camp Cam revealed that he did not call plays in the huddle, instead he relied on a less complex numbering system. Add this to the fact that he wasn’t accustomed to taking snaps under center or reading complex defenses and there were many legitimate reasons for NFL personnel people to be concerned. Instead of turning his critics into his counselors, team Cam decided to play the race card (also known as the hater card)
Fast forward to yesterday’s presser where Cam had another meltdown after a Panther loss. Where young Cameron was quoted as saying that he was going to bring in a “suggestion box” because he was out of ideas, basically throwing his Offensive coordinator under the bus. Combine that with Cam celebrating in the end zone via his superman dance while trailing by two touchdowns and his constant Eeyoring(The opposite of Tebowing, think Winnie the Pooh) during and after games. The same beast that catapulted Cam’s meteoric rise to stardom is the same one that’s yanking him back down to earth.
In reality none of these are a big deal. The quarterback in the NFL is more than just another position on the team. He’s the flagship, a team spokesman the tangible face of the organization. Everything he does, says, yes even his facial expressions are scrutinized analyzed and criticized. Newton has to understand that. On the field and often off the field the position must be played with nerves of steel.
A look into Cam’s recent past shows that he’s always been able to shed off any adversity with the same easy that he does oncoming defenders. Steal a laptop? Get off with a slap on the wrist, transfer to a community college, win a national championship and become the most sought after JUCOS in the country. Dad takes money during the recruiting process? The NCAA absolves you of all blame and go on to win another national championship.
Now Newton faces a challenge that his talent alone can’t overcome. In the National Football league, no player no matter how gifted can get by on talent alone. It’s a league of constant calibration and recalibration, Darwin’s theory of evolution on steroids. Every player must learn to adapt, it’s either evolve or die. The history of the league is filled with players of immense talent that weren’t able to do so. In the league it’s not so much how talented you are, but how you respond to adversity but how you adapt and survive and ultimately thrive.
I hope Cam can turn things around, I truly do. Cam still has time to mature. A very non flattering narrative is forming. Once our 24 hour sports obsessed media finishes shoving a narrative down our throats it’s almost impossible for any athlete to overcome. Cam Newton must evolve very quickly or he will find himself added to the long list of talented players who couldn’t cut it in the National Football League.
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