Cam Newton Explodes in Opener

So it appears I may have been wrong about Carolina Panthers Coach Ron Rivera's decision to start Cam Newton. Cam Newton did just about everything right in the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals except win. Newton ended the day 24 for 37 with 422 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Newton also had 18 yards rushing and a touchdown.

I don't know how Carolina lost this game. Offensively, the Panthers played better. The only clear advantage the Cardinals had were fewer penalties and better special teams. Special teams is what won the game. The number five overall pick out of LSU, rookie Patrick Peterson, returned a punt for 89 yards to give the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish.

I can see Cam Newton's career going one of three ways.

1. He ends up being one of the all time greats, like a Michael Jordan for basketball or Wayne Gretzky for hockey.
2. He struggles to stay consistent on his way to an average career (with a chance at a Super Bowl), like a Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson. 
3. He has a great career as an individual player, but never gets a Super Bowl ring, like a Dan Marino. 

If I were a betting man, I would choose number 3. He has a strong arm and seems to be very intuitive, but I do not see the leadership skills it takes to win a championship. One of the main reasons he performed so well yesterday was the leadership shown by veteran wide receiver Steve Smith who had 8 catches for 178 yards and two scores.

(via ESPN)

Cam Newton's First Career Start and Probably First Career Loss

Cam Newton has had a thoroughly uninspired preseason and now he has "earned" the right to start in the Carolina Panther's regular season opener. Head Coach Ron Rivera was so impressed by Cam Newton's only series in the final preseason game against the Steelers, he decided to start Cam for the season opener.

"It speaks for itself," Rivera said. "With what Cam's done and the direction we're headed with this football team, in all honesty he is our starter. He is going to grow as a starter and we're going to grow as a football team. It's not just about him. It's about the rest of us growing in our system.

Cam does well in only one of the preseason games he played in and in only one series, but Rivera starts him anyway. What's the deal Rivera? Seriously, there is only one picture of Newton actually playing in a preseason game. Why did you bless him with the starting job already? Is Newton the Panther's savior?

"We didn't draft Cam to the be savior. We drafted him to help lead this football team."

I guess that is true. If the Panther's wanted a savior they would have drafted his holiness, Tim Tebow last year.

(via Charlotte Observer)