Say what you want about Jimmy Clausen's deficiencies -- and we all have done that -- but politeness isn't one of them. I thought it was classy of Clausen to welcome Newton both in private conversations and publicly via Twitter. His Twitter message: "Congrats to Cam Newton. Welcome to the Panthers."
While Clausen can’t be happy about the situation, Clausen is determined to be a good teammate. Now whether that goes as far as giving up the No.2 jersey that Clausen holds and has rights to as a veteran but Newton wants (Newton said as much in Charlotte Friday, hoping he could get his college number in the NFL).
If I were Clausen, I probably wouldn’t let Newton have it without some compensation.
I wouldn’t give No.2 away, for sure. That seems a bit emasculating to me, given that the two will be involved in a head-to-head competition for the starting job. I might sell it to Newton, though (and then give the money to charity, an idea first suggested to me by my quick-witted colleague David Scott).
In that case, Newton would get what he wants, Clausen could save some face and a worthwhile charity could benefit with a check for what should at least cost a few thousand dollars. A win-win for everyone.
In other news, the Panthers drafted two defensive tackles you probably have never heard of unless you are a real draft junkie with their third-round picks Friday night. But South Florida's Terrell McClain and Stanford's Sione Fua fulfill a major need for an interior D-line that got pushed around too often in 2010. That was a major need for Carolina, so Friday was very much a "smashmouth" day for the Panthers after the splashy first day with the Cam Newton pick.
While McClain is a bit more athletic than Fua, who is mostly a run-stuffer, both are "space-eaters," said Panther coach Ron Rivera. He had a little hint of glee in his voice when he said it, too.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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72 comments:
Nope...Cam can have 12 if he wants...but since Jimmy is scared of everybody he probably will give it to him.
If I were Clausen, I would sell it and keep the money instead of give it to charity.
as the #1 pick, Cam should have access to Clausen's jersey and girlfriend too
Hell no! Cam needs to be treated like a rookie. His head is already too big. This ain't Auburn.
Clausen should be glad to have a jersey to wear period...So with that being said...I think he should fork it over...But Cam being the upstanding teammate should compensate Clausen a few G's...
If Cam has any class he will take another number and not waste his time on that nonsense- it will send a positive message to the team and set him on the right course for the future.
Hell no!
That would be classless of Cam -
Tell him to go to hell Jimmy -- keep your number and give him your middle finger
Considering JC wants #7 I don't see a problem with it.
Cam hasn't earned anything yet, not even his overly large guaranteed paycheck.
I would like to see some of that "quick-wittedness" in some of David's articles.
Cam Newton is definitely #2. He was at Florida and Auburn. He will be #2 for the Panthers and any other NFL team he cons into a roster. Of course this shouldn't be a surprise. His father is #2 as well. Both of them are shining examples of large piles of #2.
Clausen should wear warm up pants and a hoodie
Clausen should wear a wig, high heels and date Julius Peppers.
Clausen should wear a UPS uniform.
That would be a complete total display of weakness and stupidity. This guy is coming in to take your job and youre just handing it to him.. Screw that - he can have the number when im Cut. :) Injuries happen - whos to say cam is Injury proof. Who knows Clausen may a future qb that learns behind Cam - wtf knows what happens in the future. :)
But dont give up that Jersey. :) By the way GO CAM NEWTON.. lOVE YOU.
Hell NO! Cam can get a Bojangles value meal #1 jersey from Jake!
Earn is Cam, force this loser team to trade Jimmy and you get it!
Clausen who?
There's only one person in the building that likes Clausen. Guess who it is? Marty Hurney!
now he should be working at Bojangles!!!!!
Man yall are hilarious wit this set of comments!
That #2 does historically have a pejorative connotation. I would do a #1 on it....
Why does he bring this up on the day after he's drafted? What happened to being like collard greens? Get your head in the playbook and not cosmetic crap, Cammy Cam.
Why should Jimmy Clausen GIVE him that number for free??? whoever thinks that he should is wrong in my book. the only way Newton gets that number is if he pays for it or if Clausen is traded or released. As for Newton, if he cant have number 2, he should wear his old college number 13.
It will cost him $5,000 - 10,000, if Clausen is willing.
Why would Clausen give his jersey number to an inferior quarterback?
Pickles will get beaten up badly during the first six games before Cam starts, then may have to do it again after Cam's broken appendage or ligament. Should be like Baskin-Robbins, first come, first served, take a number......
Just play ball and dont worry what you look like, all the low numbers are for losers, what does Montana, Brady, Kurt Warner wear, you sound like a girlie trying to ask a question what dress looks best. Get Cam a running back jersey and run the wild cat 10 times, then fool the defense and throw the bomb for TD
Why should he... he really put that jersey to use last season. Can't argue with those pathetic stats. He should be happy to get that #2 off his back. When you are the worst in the league, you should no say in what you wear and just be glad that you still have a jersey to wear.
no one should wear #2. It is cursed. Cam, wear #12. Jimmy, switch to #7. Best thing for this organization is for Jimmy to do well - we can trade him later for more assets. Stop hating, get behind him.
Cam doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the shed
The haters on this site are over the top. Get a life.
Not hating, just making an observation... Hope it is just his manner of speech
The Panthers making this pick is the nail in the coffin for me. I have stuck with this team since the beginning. I can't root for this guy. I am now an Eagles fan. FLY EAGLES FLY.
If he wants that Doug Flutie number...pay for it and let jimmy give the dough to big bro rick, sure he can use it to by some Cam stock!
Anonymous Eagles fan, that's where you belong, with thelow class eagles fans. Stay there.
If I were clausen, I'd laugh in his face. If Clausen switches his number, I'll lose the (limited) respect I have for him.
Whatever you do make sure you dont buy any bogus Observer polls asking your opinion. Total crock. All sports writers have to toe the line for CNewton. No exceptions.
OBSERVER POLLS ARE ALL RIGGED.
I'm fine with Cam wearing #2 because thats what I think he is. I'd prefer it to be one of the other 31 uniforms though. Wasted pick panthers, hide your laptops.
Scam the ham already pictured with smily face kids on the ft page as the Disturber desperately attempts to rehab his bad image.
Not one single trade offer from a any other NFL team? Un frickin real.
That says it all ... Nobody wants him past present or future. Hurney was forced to do the pick. Bad omen.
For everyone suggesting #12 - have you forgotten the Kerry Collins days? How did that work out for us last time?
Clausen, give it up for $10,000 and give the money to a deserving charity in the Charlotte area...you both look good and save face from a stupid public squabble...
If Scam Newton beats JC out for the starting job (not that hard) then let him have the number. They are both #2 anyway.
He will get nothing and like it.
Considering Clausen wore No. 7 in high school in college, he change it whenhe came to Carolina, your a smart guy, you knew that, but some content for a blog entry.
I do not see why he would have a problem with it at all.
The way this town goes, the same article will be written next year when after not giving Cam Newton enough time and drafting Andrew Luck.
Love Cam to death, but if Dill Pickle gives up his number to his replacement...he shows he doesn't WANT to be an NFL QB!
You were the starter at end of season and the New Coach says QB play was suspect! Then they Draft a QB at #1 ; well the writing is on the wall, sell the jersey number for a hefty price and get into the playbook so that you can make yourself marketable when you get a chance to play again. Use this as a motivation or you're on the way out the league altogether!.....,,The Catman HOF 2004!
Fosho said ...
Scam Newton will be the biggest joke #1 round pick that no other team wanted in the history of the NFL. Where are any other offers to trade him down? ZERO. That is a first in the history of the draft.
One thing we do know. The broz are all in his corner and got his back too bigtime. Real shocker there. Solidarity.
They should make a deal. Whoever's higher on the depth chart on opening day gets to wear the #2 jersey. Ideally, they'll only be competing for #2 on the depth chart. GOTTA get a veteran QB in here now.
People are just being spiteful with their ridiculous demands. Cam can't be expected to learn a whole new number on top of everything else.
Fosho...the truth teller!
Clausen should sell it to him only if Newton can win the starting job.
Absolutely not. If he has any fight in him and wants to play and compete, he should politely say sorry and then act like a guy who should be a starter in this league.
Cam should have to pay for it like every other NFL player that comes into the league!
blah blah blah blah blah....fellas just practice...play the game...We wont know anything about Clausen or Scam Newton or they're abilities or play until the preseason actually starts...if there is one anyway or a season. So Jimmy came off pretty crappy first year round, so did Manning and Freeman their rookie seasons. Clausen may prove himself and Cam ride the bench...or other way around...jus never know whats gonna happen til that whistle blows and the ball is kicked in August.
Wow, Scott this was your first good article in a while. You somehow managed not to be a negative nancy and give an interesting viewpoint. Congrats.
Watched Cam Newton in his high school highlights on youtube. I know guys get better and grow with their ablilites and tallent but I wasn't really that impressed. I've seen Independence QB's look more impressive on FFN(Leake inparticular) than this guy did. He had some good scrambles and bulled his way over the line on QB keepers but that dont work too well in the NFL. Guess we'll jus see what happens.
Clausen has class. The jury is still out on Newton. No one should be prejudiced, it is time to let there be competition, and take the best outcome. No other choice at this point.
Why would it even be suggested that Clausen "give" Newton anything? Whether Newton begins the season as the starter or not, he is a rookie and Clausen is a one-year veteran. Newton's owes Clausen deference. If he wants the number, he needs to ask and be willing to pay. Furthermore, no one should look down at Clausen if he pockets the exchange money. It would be his!
If this has already been mentioned, I apologize... but Cam wore #13 at Florida and in HS... I would think that's his second choice if he can't get #2.
Good luck to Cam. War Eagle and Go Panthers.
Ok, since we have no Panther fans here, let's bring people up to date. Clausen took the number 2 because his number 7 was being worn by veteran punter Jason Baker. Clausen didn't make any noise about it, he just took the number and went to work. The number 12 is also out because receiver David Gettis is wearing it. Cam should be a professional and take a number and get to work. His other college number 13 is unused as is his mentor Warren Moon's number 1. Take one of these and move on. Peyton Manning wore 16 in college, not 18. Tom Brady wore 10 in college, not 12. Drew Brees wore 15 in college, not 9. The point is, the number is not that important. Show us all you're grown-up Cam, if you can.
First I sat back and read these and it was funny, but now I see some of you are really upset or just plain clueless. The selling of Jersey #s is a very popular thing among players in the NFL. They all do itwhen a player comes in who wants it. The other is Cam did not and say hey I want my #. A reporter asked him if he wanted his #2. His reply was they would have to work something out. In other words he is gonna try and buy it from him. Which is a win win for Clausen cause he wanted #7 but the price was to high so now he will get #7 and some money. Or the smart thing would be for Cam to take #7 then Jimmy would just trade with him and he can keep his money.
7:15, #7 is already taken. But 5:46, I liked your analysis. Really puts this mini-controversy in perspective. It's about what you do on the field, not about the stupid cloth number on your jersey. Making a big deal out of the #2 just illustrates what a narcissistic dude Newton is. I wish him the best on the field because that helps the Panthers, but I simply do not like him. You will NEVER see me buying his replica jersey.
Does the local Disturber rag have any morals whatsoever hitting these new lows?
Using pics of small kids or a deady disease like the cystic fibrosis charity event for rehabing some lowlife future millionaire pro football player worst cheat ever number one draft pick?
Unreal but par for the course.
Start Armanti Edwards and give him his #14!!!
Jimmy should take 7...and for those who say what has cam done...tell me what Jimmy has done....Tony pike has a higher passer rating than Clausen....look at last years stats...lol....if Cam wants 2 I say let him have it
It's just a number. I would be worried more about who will play this year, not what number.
Agree 6'7" 260 lb Tony Pike should be the #1 starter in 2011 and Wasnt given a decent chance by Fox last yr mainly because Herney had drafted Clausen and Edwards way too high.
Pike was the #1 QB ever at University of Cincinatti was has a rocket arm. He is easily much more superior to Newton and mobile.
The problem is a lot of these QBs like Pike or Moore had nowhere near the quality of players Newton was privleged to play with.
Newton will be fighting for 3rd string QB in 2011 when all is said and done. Way too much attention on him.
Pike is THE MAN !!!!
Cam should wear that #1 jersey he held on stage Thursday night. That should let Jimmy know who the QB 1 of the Carolina Panthers is.
Alot of you are talking as if Newton has done better than Clausen already. That has yet to be proven. Just because your the first pick out of the draft does not mean anything. *cough Jamarcus Russel. cough*
How can he do worse? This time next year all of ya'll will be kissing Cams a$$ but truthfully Charlotte doesnt deserve Cam.
Something is wrong here.
Payola in big time college sports is rampant these days and has been a long time but CNewton only got a measely little 200g to play for AU while RBush got a whopping 5 million from SoCal?
Granted Newton played only 1 yr at AU and came from a tiny community college as a nobody while Bush played 4 yrs and was high profile on the west coast.
Newton got caught almost immediately while Bush didnt get caught until he was in the pros but still has his big Malibu beach crib, cars and bling.
Moral to story: If you gonna be a crook be a smart one not a dumb one.
The problem is a lot of these QBs like Pike or Moore had nowhere near the quality of players Newton was privileged to play with.
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