Cam Newton shined on center stage at Auburn’s Pro Day
Auburn quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Cam Newton wearing the new Under Armour E39 shirts. Associated Press
Here’s the story from Cam Newton’s workout. He put on a show.
PRE-PRO DAY POST BELOW
Quarterback Cam Newton will get another chance to impress NFL scouts at Auburn’s Pro Day today.
I’m heading over there and will update how theHeisman winner and Westlake High grad performs after the workout, which is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. I’m sure I’ll send out some live tweets. You can follow me @AJCFALCONS if you want those updates.
NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock is going to be there.
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton responds to a question during a news conference during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
More importantly, Carolina coach Ron Rivera is attending. The Panthers have the top pick in the draft. Rivera could have elected to attend Ryan Mallett’s Pro Day in Arkansas.
By now, you all know that Newton didn’t perform too well at the scouting combine. The alarming thing was that he couldn’t make the 10-yard out throw to his right side. As a right-handed quarterback, that should be his money throw.
“I don’t take the 15, 20 or 30 throws (at the combine) and have it change my mind about anything,” Mayock said. “It’s important to me as an evaluator to watch as much tape as I can, but I have to see a quarterback live. I have to see how the ball comes out of his hands.”
Newton appeared to be uncomfortable with the receivers at the scouting combine. He held onto the ball too long as he was waiting for them to cut.
Mike Mayock has Missouri's Blaine Gabbert as the top rated quarterbackentering the NFL scouting combine. Gabbert throws a pass during his team’s Setp. 19, 2009, game against Furman in Columbia, Mo. (The Associated Press/L.G. Patterson)
“That was the first opportunity I got to see the ball come out of his hands,” Mayock said. “I think he was little frustrated by his inaccuracies. He didn’t throw a bunch of completions. . .You get to the five-step (drop) and the coaches are telling you to throw to an area. You have been coached your entire life to complete passes. So there is a little bit of a contradiction for a kid that’s never done this before.”
Mayock had Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert and Washington’s Jake Locker rated ahead of Newton going into the scouting combine.
“Nothing changed for me,” Mayock said. “He has a big arm. (He has better mechanics than Vince Young or Tim Tebow or any of those other big guys. I still have the same questions I had coming in. For the next two months, I’m going to try to answer them.”
Mayock likes Newton’s intangibles.
“I saw a kid that lit up the room when we talked to him,” Mayock said. “I saw a kid that was intelligent.”
Mayock said he still has two issues with Newton.
“He played in a pass offense that was fairly simple, not a lot of reads and he didn’t have a lot of patience in the pocket,” Mayock said. “But that’s what he did to win a national championship. . .Secondly, you have to figure the kid out.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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111 comments Add your comment
JJ
March 8th, 2011
11:54 am
It is time to get some new real atlanta housewives. Cynthia and Phaedra are the only housewives that is married. Why is khandi Burrus on the show, she has never been married. Poor Nene has never had a good marriage, because Greg has always had another woman. Nene has a big trash mouth and she lies. The new season should be built around Cynthia, Phaedra and a new cast.
Haters hate
March 8th, 2011
11:56 am
Scam …
You are correct. Cheating in golf or hiding an affair are totally different issues than trying to score a mountain of cash for your child’s services. The latter is the most reprehensible on the list. I would submit that the level of evil of actions by the father is directly proportional to the lengths the father would go to to cover it up.
“I spilled the milk.” No hard in coming right out and admitting everything.
“I borrowed a quarter from your piggybank.” Easy to admit. But may hurt the child’s feelings.
“I gave your bike to the neighbors because you weren’t using it.” Definitely can be admitted, but will be a little bit more difficult.
“I told your girlfriend that you cheated on her.” Could possibly avoid this conversation in hopes that it never comes up.
“I slept with your girlfriend.” Many fathers would do whatever they could to cover this egregious error.
“I have been embezzling money from my company.” Of COURSE someone as morally bankrupt as this would lie to their family about it.
“I sold you to the highest bidder.” OF COURSE the father would do everything in his power to hide any shred of evidence of this proposed solicitation to anyone and everyone.
Haters hate
March 8th, 2011
12:06 pm
SimpleDawg…
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire … right?
WHAT smoke? ALL you have is the allegations from three rogue boosters from Mississippi State. That’s barely more than a puff of smoke. That’s less than a single birthday candle.
I told AJ Green’s dad that I’d give him a pile of money and a Trans Am if he went to Georgia Tech. There!! LOOK at all that smoke! There HAS to be something to it. Where there’s smoke and sparks, there’s fire. Where’s the outrage? Where’s the commotion? Where is Fox Sports reporting on how awful AJ Green is?
Reality is – there is no smoke. There is likely no fire. The ONLY “evidence” of any impropriety by Cam Newton comes from three guys at Mississippi State. That’s it. They have zero evidence. They have zero proof. They have some doctored tapes and tons of emails and text messages that somehow were deleted from their phones when they suffered water damage. That’s so very convenient.
Oklahoma recruited him. Tennessee recruited him. Why have none of their angry boosters approached and said, “Yeah, he begged us for money too.”? Wouldn’t you think there would be someone, ANYone who would be able to corroborate this story by now? The investigation has been going on for well over a year. FBI, NCAA, SEC and virtually every sports writer in the western hemisphere has been digging into everything they can find to find ANY shred of evidence. And still all they have are three guys from Mississippi State who change their stories weekly but still say, “Yeah – he did it. We can’t prove it, but I cross my heart swear that he knew.”
And that is what so many people from rival schools are hanging their hopes, dreams and happiness on.
TBone
March 8th, 2011
12:53 pm
One of the biggest differences between college and pro football is that in college all your receivers are open and in the pro’s nobody is open. We’ll see how he does.
Peyton Manthing
March 8th, 2011
1:04 pm
Cam simply isn’t smart enough to play qb in the NFL, He has plenty of talent but when it comes to brains he got the short end of the stick, just like the hater guy. Vince and Jamarcus failed because they were not smart enough, the same will happen to Cam. If you can’t see this you are a fool.
Bigsteve
March 8th, 2011
1:15 pm
He is a ga boy. Enough said
Nachos the barn burner
March 8th, 2011
1:17 pm
Did anyone hear the Tooters Corner trees got poisoned?
I blame every ALABAMA for it,
Joycee Banicheck
March 8th, 2011
1:21 pm
Too bad Oakland doesn’t have a first round pick…
OK
March 8th, 2011
1:23 pm
So now you are the German SS deleting comments? Good job DOL. Some times the truth hurts.
5150 UOAD
March 8th, 2011
1:32 pm
There is not I repeat NOT a first round worthy QB in this draft. Maybe 2 middle 2nd round QBs and that is it. Some STUPID NFL owner will blow a Boat Load of cash on a BUST 1st round QB. The owners want more money in the CBA deal just so that can Blow money on somebody like Cam or JeMarcus. Give me a break.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 8th, 2011
1:39 pm
Don’t worry about Cam he will still be smiling all the way to the bank.
headley lamar
March 8th, 2011
1:40 pm
The guy completed 11 of 21 passes against AIR at the combine.
That folks is terrible.
Will be a bust on the Ryan Leaf level.
headley lamar
March 8th, 2011
1:44 pm
SimpleDawg…
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire … right?
Usually yes.
Ive said it a million times. If Cam knew his father was shopping him that makes him ineligible right there. Doesn’t matter what school or if any money changed hands.
If you don’t believe Cam knew what his father, who he professes to be extremely close to, was doing you are either
1. An Auburn Homer
2. An idiot
Its that simple.
steve
March 8th, 2011
1:44 pm
Every 5 years there is a player that comes along that is “once in a generation.” Give NFL fans (including myself) a few months off and they can make any team or any player sound relevant. Cam I don’t like you, but you are an incredible athlete. Yes his passing statistics were impressive in college, but there are always bound to be some passing windows when you can tuck and truck at any given time. There arent any drills out there that can simulate the stress on the mind and body like an NFL game. Taking Cam Newton #1 is obviously a gamble, but at far as quartabacks are concerned there is no such thing as a guaranteed thing out of college.
headley lamar
March 8th, 2011
1:47 pm
College Football and The NFL aren’t even the same game.
Cam is about to find that out the hard way.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 8th, 2011
2:15 pm
headley, don’t be too hard on Cam that “AIR” in the Colt Dome can do funny things to the football in flight. Just ask Peyton when he throws a pick 6 or INT, you know it isn’t Peyton’s fault.
The Old Ball Coach
March 8th, 2011
2:30 pm
Take him Carolina!!! Go Falcons!
Double Zero Eight
March 8th, 2011
2:50 pm
They said Doug Williams was not smart enough.
Jeff George was suppose to be a prodigy. He
was great in practice. When the game began, he
could not handle the pressure.
If Matt Stafford is a first pick, then Cam Newton is
at least a first rounder.
5150 UOAD
March 8th, 2011
2:52 pm
headley lamar
What kind of Smoke was there arount Herschel Walker? Sis got a scholly the year before and he arrived in a Brand New TRANS AM. This a poor boy from a family 10. H Walker was paid for too. It seems just the same. A National Championship and a Heisman Trophy for both players and schools.
Mr Doofus
March 8th, 2011
3:10 pm
To Haters Hate,
The NCAA did find that Newton’s father pimped him out, however, the way the rule is written, if the kid is unaware of this, then no foul. Which is viewed a BS in everyone’s eye except for Auburn fans. Had this occurred at any other school, you would be riding the coattails of the rest of the haters.
Don’t you have a tree to save??
birdlegs
March 8th, 2011
3:11 pm
It takes a very special and I mean REALLY special QB to be down 24-0 to the tide in Tuscaloosa and
lead his team to a victory.If I remember right,they play pretty good defense at Bama.Look at some of
the starting QB’s in the NFL and tell me Cam can’t make it.Why don’t you haters just shut up?
Double Zero Eight
March 8th, 2011
3:22 pm
I am not an Auburn fan. I am a Georgia fan.
However, I can accept the truth. Auburn
had a great season because of Cam Newton.
The SEC is the toughest conference in the nation.
Auburn deserves to be national champions. Cam
deserves the Heisman.
The truth hurts!
gdawginkalamazoo
March 8th, 2011
4:32 pm
Double Zero, indeed if everything was on the up and up, no doubt about Auburn winning it on the field. As Charlie Sheen says ” Winning”.
headley lamar
March 8th, 2011
4:38 pm
Look at some of the starting QB’s in the NFL and tell me Cam can’t make it
Im looking at them and Cam cant make it. Neither will Tebow
No NFL QB would go 11-21 against air at the combine.
None. They would hit at least 19 or 20 out of 21.
Again the NFL and College aren’t even the same game.
Haters hate
March 8th, 2011
4:53 pm
Mr. Doofus …
Ok – hate the rule, don’t hate the guy that abided by it. If it’s asinine for the NCAA to declare him eligible, shouldn’t people hate the NCAA? Cam Newton – in this scenario DID NOTHING WRONG. Why hate him? Hate the rule, not the player.
Rod
March 8th, 2011
5:03 pm
Lets just be honest and keep it real. We all know why the haters are hating. The age old addeage. Black quarterbacks are not smart enough and run first. Lets keep it real. All a bunch of bull!!!!! “Oh he’s a good athelete, but not good enough to play quarterback.” That infuriates me that some of us still have this mentality from the early 1900’s. The kid is in fact a definite first rounder and guess what else?? He will be a first rounder at your precious position QUARTERBACK!!!!! Did I say that out loud??? Yes I did. I am a Bulldog fan, but I am also a Cam Newton fan. Do your thing young fella!!! I like good football period!!! Doesn’t matter the color.
John
March 8th, 2011
5:31 pm
30 touchdowns passing, 20 touchdowns running in the SEC, and Blaine Gabbert (16 tds, 9 ints) in a wack conference is somehow better and more suited for the NFL than Cam Newton? Please…With Newton haters, its all about the 1st round money, they hate to see him get paid. He will get paid on draft day more than most of his haters will in their lifetime…and that, along with the color of his skin makes them mad.
5150 UOAD
March 8th, 2011
6:13 pm
The ONLY 1st round QB in the draft decided to stay in school at Stanford. Andrew Luck.
Cam has Nothing to Prove except that he isn’t as good as HE thinks he is. If Cam was so good and was not AFRAID to compete, then he would have returned to Defend His Heisman and National Championship Crown.
Big Dude
March 8th, 2011
6:18 pm
DOL, Just got in from work. Regarding your rebutal: “SO…Your point is?”
Try and do a report on something or somebody else. “C-MON Man”
Ted
March 8th, 2011
8:00 pm
the second part of the title of this article should be…..AND NOBODY CARES
Nachos the barn burner
March 8th, 2011
8:22 pm
sCam is a cheater
trooper taylor
March 8th, 2011
9:01 pm
Cam was my greatest recruiting victory ever. I got him for half price. We were willing to pay 400k but his dumba** dad accepted our first offer. woo hoo war eagle. look at me I’m wearing my hat backwards.
mrzizzle
March 8th, 2011
11:43 pm
Cam is a bust
MikeP
March 9th, 2011
12:03 am
Cam Newton has already signed a million dollar a year contract with Under Armor. Many millions more will be his shortly after draft day.
According to reports from today’s pro day at Auburn, Cam wowed ‘em both on the field and in interviews. Completed 51 of 55 passes including 19 in a row at one time. He’s very intelligent and personable and a natural leader, a pro team’s dream.
I wonder if one of the teams drafting down in the order will trade up to get him? Carolina could probably be bought out of the first pick for two or three good players and a lower pick. Getting Cam Newton would be worth that to one of the stronger teams.
Nick Fairley
March 9th, 2011
1:48 am
Okay, since I live rent free in the heads of Georgia fans, let me just say, WAR CAM EAGLE. Thankfully, I don’t have to actually hang out in their heads as it’s just a bitter place. Clinging so desperately to a 1980 national title? HA!
University of Tennessee, LSU, Florida, LSU, Florida, Alabama and Auburn all have BCS National Titles. We’re the part that makes the SEC great. You know, the side that wins bowl games.
So you claim Cam was paid to come to Auburn but a) offer no proof nor will you find any and b) you were still beaten on the field. And beaten badly. Hell, I beat Ben Jones so bad he had to team up with teammates to do chop blocks – which was probably coordinated from the sideline. AND I STILL beat him and his QB. Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.
Anyways, in closing…
WAR CAM EAGLE… you bitter clingers.
woebegong
March 9th, 2011
4:59 am
Rod,
I am a UGA fan also but I do not see where anybody had anything to say that was racially motivated on this blog. I think most of the issues are supposedly about his character and his readiness to play quarterback in the NFL.
I think he will do great once he makes the transition from college to NFL, and with good coaching he will be very good most likely. I just do not believe he is ready to step in right now and start at the pro. level. Remember, Auburn ran an offense that isn’t used in the pros. and Auburn had that type of offense specifically to fully utilize Cam’s natural talents.
GOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSS
Football365
March 9th, 2011
6:46 am
Woebegong, you cant honestly be that naive to believe that the majority of these comments arent racially motivated. Maybe if cam cried everytime the camera was on him like tim tebow white america would accept him. Face it nothing has changed in this country people just try to sugar coat how they really feel.
woebegong
March 9th, 2011
7:27 am
OK 365, I will just speak for myself, if that is how you see things then. Everybody is entitled to their opinion in these blogs. I spent 21 years in the military so maybe my take of the world is a little rose colored.
swampfox59
March 9th, 2011
7:28 am
he is a complete bonehead. conplete 54 of 65 passes with no defenders- He must be fantastic. send him to the redskins , philly or raiders- any team that wants a future nfl flop
Nachos the barn burner
March 9th, 2011
7:37 am
Wonder if the Rev. Cecil was allowed to attend the workout? Maybe too busy counting his money.
The Realist
March 9th, 2011
7:39 am
Hey Rod
Name one black quarterback (besides Doug Williams) who won a Super Bowl.
The numbers don’t lie.
Sid
March 9th, 2011
7:47 am
Looks like a Panther to me!
tiger7_88
March 9th, 2011
8:45 am
All these white boys on this blog hatin’ on a black quarterback.
White boys hatin’ black.
White hatin’ black.
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE THERE’S FIRE.
Racists.
(You nailed it Rod and John.)
Sid
March 9th, 2011
9:45 am
Hey “The Realist”………get real dude, it’s not as simple as black and white. Thru the years owners and coaches had a lot to do with great black athletes not getting the nod at the touted position.
Geoff Cobb
March 9th, 2011
10:42 am
The past tense of the verb shine is shone not shined. Please use the English language correctly.
Harleyman
March 9th, 2011
11:21 am
We can only hope that Carolina would be dumb enough to take him #1. That would be funny.
RICHIE RICH
March 9th, 2011
12:23 pm
HATERS HATE, IF CECIL’S CHURCH WAS ABOUT TO BE CONDEMNED, AND HE NEEDED MONEY FOR HIS CHURCH, AND NOW HIS CHURCH IS THRIVING AGAIN, CAM WOULDN’T ASK/WONDER WHERE HIS DAD WHERE HE GOT THE MONEY FROM?
WDE
March 9th, 2011
12:46 pm
All you folks hoping for Carolina to take Cam, might want to be careful for what you wish for.
I listened to it all season:
AU hasn’t been tested
LSU will beat AU
AL will beat AU
AU won’t beat SC twice in one season Blah blah blah. The man has talent and desire. Those two normally equate to success.
Ken Stallings
March 9th, 2011
1:03 pm
If you recall, I posted that half of the receptions is on the receiver. Those out routes and post patterns are as much timing as anything else. And when a QB is not used to the speed of his receivers, getting that timing down is as much luck as skill.
Newton was the best completion passer in Div-1A football last season. That says it all. Now, with receivers he is used to, he nails those same routes he had issues with at the combine. Like I also wrote then, this further undermines the credibility of the NFL combine.
Big time players like Newton can overcome the limitations of the combine. The real damage is done to other deserving players without the resume!
I’m not an Auburn fan nor alumnus. However, if the Carolina Panthers do not take Newton number one in the draft, I strongly believe they will regret it. And, I am a Panthers fan!
BirdDirty
March 9th, 2011
1:28 pm
To all of you that say these comments aren’t racial, please tell me why everyone thinks Gabbert is a better prospect than Newton. Answer these questions about Blaine Gabbert.
Where his stats better?
Did his team win more games?
Did his team win the national championship?
Did he win the heisman?
Did he play in the toughest conference in America?
Did he go undefeated in the toughest conference in America?
Is he more athletic than Cam?
Did he run the same spread offense in college like Cam?
It is so funny when I hear media types and ignorant fans gush all over Blaine Gabbert. If he had Cam’s resume, he would be the odds on favorite to be the overall #1 pick. Conversely, if Cam had Gabbert’s pedestrian numbers (16tds & 9 ints), the draft experts would be trying to move him to receiver or tight end.
In addition, they keeping making a big deal about the “icon” and “entertainer” comments. Isn’t that what the NFL is looking for? Sure they are. That’s why the NFL has the billion dollar t.v. contract. The society loves to villify the black athlete. That’s why I keep rooting for M.V. The more they hate, the more we embrace! And to those that dismiss the racial componenet of some of these negative posts, “open your eyes”!!!