The Curious Case For Cam Newton

The past few days all I have heard are the so called experts tell football fans why the Carolina Panthers should not take Cameron Newton with the first overall pick in the draft. One guy loves him and his upside, and then the next guy gives you 100 reasons why he shouldn’t be the number one overall pick. My question is, why wouldn’t you want this kid? Everything about him says winner. When he was in high school he won. He was a member of the 2008 Florida National Championship team before his suspension. He took his talents to Blinn Junior College in 2009 and won a Juco National Championship. Then in 2010 he shows up at Auburn and wins another BCS National Championship.

Sure there are the intangibles. Can you trust the guy? Is he a legitimate franchise quarterback? Does he posses the skills needed to compete in the National Football League? My question is why so many questions? Tim Tebow was a pretty good college quarterback. He was drafted in the first round. Newton has already outperformed him as a passer in college and in workouts. Tebow showed everyone at the end of the year that he can be a legitimate passer and player in this league.

There is no doubt that the Panthers need a quarterback. They need one in the worst way. However, if Newton is not the kid you really want, go ahead and tank another season and wait for Andrew Luck. The way I see it is that Newton is the best quarterback on the board and if he doesn’t measure up to expectations, then pass on him. This situation bothers me a little anyways as it just reminds me too much of other great "savior" QB's to get drafted high and then not become what was expected.

There is no doubt in my mind that Newton will be fine in the NFL, just maybe not in Carolina because of the shape they are in. I feel the same way about Blaine Gabbert. If either is drafted they would be expected to start right away and neither of them will be ready for that. The learning curve for a rookie is far too high and transitioning from spread to traditional takes time.

Click to read more ...

Missing Persons II: Has Anyone Seen These Former Stars

Now that the NFL season is over I have decided to make it more routine to find the Milk Carton Athletes. I feel like it’s my duty to find these athletes that have gone missing. We previously profiled 3 guys who are missing in action. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to add to the list until we find out where these superstars are hiding.

In order to make the list, you had to have been a lottery pick in a sport or a perceived superstar.

Missing person #1 – Matt Leinart

Leinart played collegiately at the University of Southern California. In 2004, he led the Trojans to the BCS national championship and was named that year's winner of the Heisman Trophy as well as the winner of the inaugural Manning Award, which is awarded to the country's top quarterback.

The left-handed passing Leinart was selected tenth overall in the 2006 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Despite possessing what draft experts believed was a good frame for a quarterback (6'-5”, 230 pounds), they believed his lack of a strong throwing arm, such as that possessed by his predecessor, Carson Palmer (now with the Cincinnati Bengals), would be a detriment.

Click to read more ...

NFL Class of 2006: They Aren't What We Thought They Were

I was just talking the other day about the best college football game that meant anything that I have ever seen. I know its been a few years now, but doesn’t that 2005-2006 National Title Game between college football’s USC Trojans and the Texas Longhorns on January 4, 2006 seem like yesterday?

By the end of that wonderful game in which Texas had comeback from 12 points down with 6:42 left in the game, Vince Young had become a part of college football folklore, Matt Leinart capped what was one of the best quarterbacking careers ever at the college football level, and Reggie Bush outstanding Heisman Trophy campaign had come to an official end.

Those three guys were heroes, not because of that game along, but for everything they had done for college football up until that point. The fact that they all had been in the national spotlight for multiple years, faced all kinds of pressure, and delivered performances the way they did made them instant college football legends. And at the very point when everyone knew their college football careers had come to an end, it seemed inevitable that each of them would become NFL superstars early on in their NFL careers.

Click to read more ...

Why Winning the Heisman Does Not Equal Success in the NFL

Every year we watch college football with the excitement and intrigue of a 12 year old who is finding their way into adulthood. Year after year we watch player by player get decorated with awards that many feel they deserve. Funny thing is very few players live up to the hype when they reach the NFL. Let’s take the last few Heisman winners that have finished their college careers and see how successful they have been on the next level.

2007 Tim Tebow – Third String QB Verdict still out

2006 Troy Smith – Third String QB cut recently by Ravens

2005 Reggie Bush – Backup overpaid RB never will play to potential

2004 Matt Leinart – Career backup QB cut recently by Cardinals

2003 Jason White – Undrafted No Longer in NFL

2002 Carson Palmer – Has had a couple of good seasons but average career

2001 Eric Crouch – Moved to Safety No longer in NFL

2000 Chris Weinke – Backup QB No longer in NFL

1999 Ron Dayne – Backup RB No longer in NFL

This list says a lot. It is amazing that only one out of all these players have been successful. College football is a game that displays a certain amount of irony. The offenses that the college teams run are all flavorful and full of variety and there is coaching that allows individuals to do things that garner recognition. The Pro game is dictated more towards skill. The offenses are all pretty much the same since the game recycles coaches over and over but that is a topic for another day.

Click to read more ...

NFC West: Its About Respect.. The Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks Battle For It

Day 8 of breaking down the divisions has led us to the NFC West. In the past three to four years the NFC West has belonged to the Arizona Cardinals and rightfully so. The Cardinals have been the cream of the crop in that division. Times are changing and a few pieces are now missing from that championship formula.

This year the Arizona Cardinals will be without gun slinging signal caller Kurt Warner and speedy wide receiver Anquon Boldin. Taking over behind the center is former first round draft pick Matt Leinart. Leinart will still have weapons as the backfield is populated with two great backs in Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower. The wide receivers are still amongst the best in the league as Larry Fitzgerald will be showcased along side promising youngsters Steve Breaston and Early Doucet. The Cardinals tight ends are led by Anthony Becht who will also provide balance to the end of an offensive line that can protect the passer as well as dominate the run game.

Defensively the Cardinals have a pretty good defensive front. They are led by Darnell Dockett up front. The linebackers are fueled by explosive playmaker and new addition to the squad Joey Porter. The secondary also should be pretty solid with the addition of Kerry Rhodes at the safety position.

Click to read more ...