As I listen to and/or read the “reviews” of Cam Newton’s first two games as a Carolina Panther, I just have to sigh and shake my head.
“Awesome!”
“He’s unbelievable!”
“This guy may be the real deal.”
“This kid is good”
That last one there is from an article posted on ESPN Sunday afternoon. I have to laugh and question all of these guys' credentials. Did you not see any of last year when Cam was leading Auburn to a perfect 14-0 record en route to a National Championship. Did you not see the way he could take over a game by himself and literally carry his team (along with a couple of the other team’s defenders) on his broad back? If you didn’t, you weren’t paying attention.
Bo Jackson knew it. Here are his statements to Jim Rome before the season even started:
He has the arm strength and power of Dan Marino and John Elway combined. He is quicker than Michael Vick, faster than Michael Vick. And he will run over you with the power of a Jerome Bettis, Bo Jackson, Earl Campbell. That is the type of guy that he is. There isn’t another quarterback in the NFL that has all of those tangibles.
One reason hopes were not as high may be the mess that got stirred up about midway through the season. There were allegations of a “pay for play” situation between Newton’s father and Mississippi State. Allegations that were never actually proven (to the best of my knowledge). But those allegations followed Newton through the rest of the season and not only gained his reputation, but the reputation of Auburn itself. And I’m quite no one was ever able to prove that Auburn participated in any sort of scandal. And, by the way, don’t you think it’s interesting that these allegations all of a sudden popped up when Auburn started the season 6-0 and Cam’s start was starting to rise? Hmmm.
Anyway, the NFL is starting to see the talents that Cam Newton can bring to a football team. Yes, in the first two games in which he threw for over 400 yards, the Panthers also lost. Can’t deny that. But I’m almost positive that every Panther fan may be seeing their team’s future success every time that ball is snapped to number 1. They see it. I can’t believe not many others did.
By the way, War Eagle!
