Thursday, June 9, 2011

Cam Newton on the playbook and Steve Smith

It was very interesting watching Cam Newton Thursday morning as the Carolina Panthers and their player-led workout crew allowed in the media for a half hour of interviews and practice viewing.

Newton very obviously is trying to act like a rookie and not like a Heisman Trophy winner nor the No.1 overall draft choice nor someone who met President Obama Wednesday -- although he is all of those things.

It's hard to do that when you're Cam, though. The Panthers were going to make a half-dozen players available prior to their final optional workout at Charlotte Christian Wednesday -- all of them veterans except Cam. The players went up into the bleachers at the school and were asked to spread out by the media to allow for one-on-one interviews.

Newton seemed to want to stay in the background and quite innocently took a seat right behind veteran (and fairly anonymous) Panther defensive end Tyler Brayton.
The media (including me) then surrounded Newton, which made it awkward for Brayton. I don't blame Brayton for getting up and then quietly leaving the gathering himself. (The other players who did talk were Jordan Gross, Jon Beason, Jason Baker and Jeremy Shockey).

Newton was the star attraction, asked more questions by more reporters for a longer period of time than anyone else. He really tried to sound pleasant and positive without saying very much. Overall, he succeeded -- I thought it was a good "media day" for Newton, who steered away from all controversy and toward free-floating optimism at every turn.

Here's a sampling:

-- On his mindset for these two weeks of optional workouts: "Try to meet the guys. See what each player was really about. You talk to them over the phone, you text them, but that can only go so far. We have had a lot of opportunity to mingle with each other as far as going out to eat, having small talk. That's how you get team chemistry. You can't get that over the phone."

-- On how he's doing learning the Panthers' playbook: "Time will tell. As far as me being familiarized with the playbook and the base of it, I think I have a whole grip on who we are as an offense."

-- On the biggest adjustment from college to the NFL: "One thing is preparation, obviously -- preparing as a quarterback in the NFL is completely different as compared to the collegiate level. Also the terminology, the blitz schemes and also at the end of the day, you're not playing freshmen anymore. You're playing grown men. and this is where speed comes into play at all times."

-- On his developing relationship with Steve Smith: "Steve is a person I really admire. I've heard a lot of things about Steve and only half of them [are] true. But one thing everybody knows is Steve Smith is a playmaker -- a bona fide playmaker at that. I've talked to Steve numerous times and he's always encouraging me to not settle. And anybody that goes as far to do that is a special person."

Newton also noted that Smith has shown up at the Panthers' optional workouts at least once and impressed the quarterback immediately with his explosiveness and his hands. "To some degree, he's on a different level," Newton said. "And I told him this. You know I throw a three-step drop or an out route, I've got to get back real fast to get it to him extremely quick because he's that explosive as a player."

My thoughts? Smith, by showing up for at least one workout and praising Newton in a Monday interview is trying to mend some fences just in case he does end up staying a Panther in 2011.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vogue. Strike a pose & he's not even a passer. He looks gay.

For the outlawed union the word is the new NFL will require a college degree so he may be going back to college before signing.

Dont believe a word "non-factor" Smith says. Smith is on his way out and needs to re-pay the last 3 years in full with interest.

Gotcha back bro ...

Paper Bag Man said...

2-14, here we come again. If we are lucky that is. Hey at least PSL's can be had for a third of their sale price from the team.

Anonymous said...

Cant wait to get the #1 pick again and draft Andrew Luck. Cam will make a decent Tight End I hope.

But he might be too dumb to figure it out

Anonymous said...

Shane "Scam" Porter? That boy def got sugar in his blood. Nice try.

Agree. Make him a TE.

JimmyC

Anonymous said...

Jimmy Clausen says he was with Cam in the showers after the workout and that Cam is not nearly as endowed as many of the dongs he has held in the past-

He said Cam doesnt pass the Clausen 5-Finger Test

Anonymous said...

just hope scam and steve are not downlow but something going on for sure with those 2.

Anonymous said...

Smith was actually quoted as saying he was "outstanding ... and fabulous". So how far standing out was he lil Stevie? He was fabulous too?
Note to Panthers mgmt: Keep Shane and Steve OUT of the locker room showers together alone. thanks.

T.O. big daddy

Anonymous said...

Geez almost everyone who posted on here is obviously one of the fairweather Falcons fans I have to deal with every day in ATL.
Seriously folks dont act like fans if you dont support the team, we are better off without you.

Scott said...

lot of haters on here. It was frustrating for everyone last year but try to keep an open mind. I feel pretty hopeful we are at least headed in the right direction. Work in progress.

Anonymous said...

Nobody can make these whiners happy !
Same guys who can't get laid because he is always crying the blues ! Go pull for Romo and the Cowboys whiners
and leave our team alone !

Anonymous said...

how many panthers are gay? thats the problem. peppers was a limpy. beason? smith? newton? porter? etc all limpys?

change the name to pink panthers?
they def play like girls. how many squat to pee? they need to be cheerleaders.

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