Newton puts best face forward

Sponsored

Unable to participate in the postseason all-star games, which are only for seniors, Newton held an invitation-only media workout in California last month. The effort to rework his public image was put into motion.

Still, Newton has had trouble getting out of his own way. In an interview with Sports Illustrated last week set up by his first major sponsor, Under Armour (which counts Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as its marquee endorser), Newton said, “I see myself not only as a football player, but an entertainer and icon.’’

The comments caused such a stir that the 21-year-old felt it necessary to clarify them at the opening of his media session; he explained he was “making the point that I want to be the best possible ambassador for [Under Armour], just as I want to be the best possible ambassador for whatever team I am lucky enough to play for.’’

He fielded questions after the statement, his confidence on display. He declined to talk about the events at Florida, and said his relationship with his father is stronger than ever. Newton also referred to himself in the third person twice, the most memorable in his closing sentence, when he said, “I’m just going to continue to focus on Cam Newton to make him the best person that he can be.’’

The Combine is his first chance to meet NFL brass, and each team gets just 15 minutes to interview each prospect.

Though coaches and general managers don’t deny Newton’s athleticism and talent, there are serious questions about his ability to lead an NFL offense. At Auburn, he played in a spread offense with one primary read on most plays, which drastically reduced the decisions he had to make.

“The offense he played . . . is completely different from what we play in the National Football League,’’ Giants GM Jerry Reese said. “But his skill set — he has a superior skill set. Everybody should want to take a chance on a talent like that.’’

Which is why Combine godfather Gil Brandt claimed he would be shocked if Newton isn’t picked first overall by Carolina. Several mock drafts have him being taken in the top 10.


Still, other draft sites don’t list Newton among their top prospects. It isn’t just that he comes from a spread offense; he only had one season as a starter.

As with other players, the total package is always taken into consideration. The workouts, the medical reports, their performances in games and on film, and even how they treated everyone on their college campus, from coaches to custodians, are scrutinized.
“To me, it’s huge,’’ former New England personnel man and Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff said of a quarterback’s character and personality. “It was a big part of our interview process with Matt Ryan. We spent a lot of time with him, not only physically in Boston, but a lot of time with the associates he dealt with. We want him to be the first guy in and the last guy out [of the team facility]. We want him to have a presence.’’

Newton certainly has presence and charisma. But whether he’ll use those traits to help him become a leader at the toughest position in sports is one thing teams will try to determine.

“Look, Cam Newton is a very, very talented player and he’s done some remarkable things in an offense that is unique,’’ NFL Network analyst and former Oakland personnel executive Michael Lombardi said. “But I think he’s going to have to prove to the NFL people that he’s committed, he’s willing to work hard . . . he’s going to have to take some time to develop his game and he’s going to have to show people that there’s an offense that he can fit in and he can develop within.

“That’s a difficult question to answer. The NFL is not like the NBA — you don’t go from high school and start playing really good. The NFL takes time, and especially at quarterback.’’

Newton is all about his future. But his future, at least until the NFL draft gets underway, will be filled with questions from his past. He’ll need more than charm and charisma to succeed.

Sponsored
Distributed by Top News
artist photos