Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Panthers should take Cam Newton

I wrote my column today on why Carolina should use its No.1 overall draft choice on Cam Newton.

I started thinking seriously about this No.1 pick about three months ago, when The Observer sent me to the Orange Bowl to take a firsthand look at Stanford QB Andrew Luck (who then was thought to be the likely No.1 pick as long as he came out of Stanford early, which of course he didn't). I loved Luck, and I still think he has Peyton Manning potential. That would have been Carolina's ideal scenario, but he stayed in school. Good for him, bad for Carolina.

After that, I bounced around. I had fallen in love with the idea of Luck coming to Carolina, and so I wasn't really sure what the Panthers should do next when that option was taken away. I used to think Newton's teammate, DT Nick Fairley, would be the best selection. I went through a time where I thought trading down might be the best option for Carolina (and this certainly remains a viable one).

But I've finally settled on Newton, because he plays the most important position on the field, I don't think Jimmy Clausen is the answer, Newton is incredibly athletic and I see Michael Vick's (on-field) potential in him.

That's where I'd go with this pick. Best player, most important position, Heisman Trophy winner, national championship winner. It doesn't seem that complicated, does it?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lets see --- We WASTED last year's #1 by trading the year before to get Everette Brown

Then, we wasted last year's #2 by taking Clausen, who other teams that were qb desperate passed on.

Then we traded away THIS YEARS #2 in the Armanti Edwards fiasco pick

So-- Here we sit with a #1 and no #2 and all these CO guys can come up with is TAKE A RISK AGAIN?

We have been so screwed up with Hurneys recent moves, and on top of that -- got kicked in the groin by Luck

Hurney needs to get the most NFL ready player for one of our MANY needs.

Peterson, Green, or Dareus will be solid, and then try to draft a QB next year with our top-5 pick

This team is sunk if they take Newton

Anonymous said...

Greta -- draft Newton - Then every time he is booed or doesnt play we get to hear all the 'Racist' chants

Anonymous said...

WHEN IS THAT BLOOD THIRSTY DUMB LYING USELESS POS IN THE WH NAMED OBAMA GONNA GET GAS BACK DOWN ??????????
ITS ALMOST 4 BUCKS A GALLON DUE TO HIS SORRY WARS.

Brady said...

Just in case you missed this:

Q&A with college scouting director Don Gregory

Don Gregory, the Panthers' director of college scouting, spoke with The Observer after one of the Senior Bowl practices on Tuesday.

Q: A guy who's not in this game but is from Mobile is Nick Fairley. He's been widely linked to that first pick. What's your evaluation of him?

A: "The guy's talented. A blind dog can find a nut once in a while."

That in a nut shell sums up the Panther's scouting department!

Panther fans have no chance with BAFOONS like Don Gregory and Marty Hurney overseeing these drafts.

Anonymous said...

why does Scott see Vick potential in Newton??? i dont see Vick's speed in Newton. i see Vince Young speed, so i dont see him being a great runner in the pros, but his passing could be great, if he makes better reads.

Anonymous said...

You compare him to Vick, quick question how many superbowls has Vick won? Cam Newton is a waste of space and would be a wasted pick. How leaving the football talk to the guys who know something about the game.

One and Done said...

Is this more funny or stupid?: "

We don't want a player like Michael Vick because he's never won a ring!"

Would you take Phillip Rivers? Matt Ryan? Matt Schaub? Kevin Kolb. Stupid comment.

And to the dmbss that made the "Obama's Wars" and expensive gas" comment: do you remember the previous president at all? I'm one of the mildly dissapointed liberals, but c'mon, man! Its hard to be president when the office was left in a sewer. Another stupid comment.

Out.

Unknown said...

Taking Newton will only set this team back for years to come. He is not ready to start or to a lead a team on the field. Coach Rivera wants to make his mark with this draft, then start on defense. Peterson, Dareus, Fairley, even Von Miller would be a better edition to the roster than Newton. The fact is there is not an NFL ready QB in this draft. People want to point to Roethlisberger, Ryan, Stafford and Bradford and think that simply drafting a QB early in the first round will solve all of the teams problems. Not so. I am not saying that we would be any better off with Clausen but isn't that the point. If we are only going to improve the position by a slight margin and Clausen is likely going to be the starter anyway, then why not draft a player at one of the other numerous positions that we need significant help in. Draft a player that will make the Panthers a better football team, and Newton is simply not it.

Anonymous said...

Where's Darin Gantt? Did he speak too much truth?

Anonymous said...

Take Gabbert or Mallet. Both have rocket arms with deadly accuracy. Newton has a weak arm and no accuracy.

Gabbert is 6'5" 250lbs
Mallet is 6"7" 265bs
Newton is 6"4" 235lbs

No brainer. Mallet or Gabbet. Newton is weak with inadequate education.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, pick Frankenstein too if he's available. He's tall enough too and fits the "ideal" profile. But I don't think that the Panthers even with the recent bad seasons possess the loser mentality of some commenters here. Cam Newton is the best player available for the Panthers and brings the most excitement. I don't think the Panthers will validate the silliness read here by wasting their NUMBER ONE PICK by taking anyone less than the best player even if he doesn't meet some persons ideal profile for QB.

Anonymous said...

Cam Newton will run across that Bof A stadium grass like a scalded ape baby !

just try to catch that boy!

carolinaz3 said...

I don't believe the Panthers can afford to use their top pick 2 yrs in a row on a QB. sign a veteran like Palmer to get us through this yr and let Claussen sit and learn. IF there's no season this year then we'll take Luck next year with the First pick.

Anonymous said...

What a cynical, perverse world sportswriters live in. Throw some raw meat in the ring. Watch the action.

redlight2 said...

Newton would be a wasted pick----just look at his personal background.

We need the best defensive lineman we can get.

Newton is a step backwards (look at Young in Tennessee).

Brady said...

Just in case you missed this:

Q&A with college scouting director Don Gregory

Don Gregory, the Panthers' director of college scouting, spoke with The Observer after one of the Senior Bowl practices on Tuesday.

Q: A guy who's not in this game but is from Mobile is Nick Fairley. He's been widely linked to that first pick. What's your evaluation of him?

A: "The guy's talented. A blind dog can find a nut once in a while."

That in a nut shell sums up the Panther's scouting department!

Panther fans have no chance with BAFOONS like Don Gregory and Marty Hurney overseeing these drafts.

Unknown said...

Taking Cam Newton with the top pick would be the worst mistake the Panthers could make.

Anonymous said...

@ 6:09 PM At first I thought "scalded ape baby" was your dear old mama, but "scalded ape baby" is much better looking!