Cam Newton, the Carolina Panthers Number One NFL First Round Draft Pick Quarterback, set an NFL Rookie Record on Sunday, throwing for 422 yards, and was 24 of 37 with two touchdowns and one interception. That, folks, was his first game. Unfortunately, it was a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but fittingly, it was a loss that was almost a win for Newton.
But Newton won anyway.
Let’s go back to my video blasting NFL Network’s Mike Mayock for making a statement questioning Newton’s heart and commitment to NFL Football, saying “I just don’t know if he cares enough.” Mayock was one notable name among a number of NFL commentators who got on a weird, racially-tinged, bandwagon against Cam Newton, trying to devalue him.
Mayock’s blast led to this…
The effort was punctuated by the USA Today’s racist article comparing Newton to every black quarterback in modern NFL history who didn’t perform well, with the keyword being “Jamarcus Russell.”
By the time the 2011 NFL Draft was underway, the talk about race and Newton was all over the place, and yes, this blogger played a healthy role in, as they say, “putting it out there.” The reason was to blunt the “dog whistle racism” that was active at the time. It was shameful.
All along, I said Newton would do well – very well. He was always the best QB in the draft, and the Carolina Panthers ignored Mike Mayock and ESPN’s Mel Kiper, and even NFL Legend Jerry Rice (who said Newton had “accuracy problems” which was totally incorrect and from a man who should know better), and picked Newton.
At the NFL Draft, Cam Newton handled it all well after being selected number one…
And is well on his way toward – a date with the Green Bay Packers. Now, a game that would have been meaningless just a few months ago has meaning. The nation will look to see what Cam does next.
Meanwhile, I was totally wrong about the Carolina Panthers’ offensive design going into the game. Hats off to Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who’s obviously an excellent teacher with a willing pupil.
Meanwhile, Mike Mayock should formally apologize to Cam Newton.
Bill Carroll