Live from Falcons-Panthers: Is Cam still Carolina’s man?
Cam Newton: Is the gifted quarterback the Panthers' leader or a man apart? (AP photo)
The Cam Newton backlash has begun, as if on cue. The man who was going to elevate the woebegone Carolina Panthers, similar to the way he’d lifted the Auburn Tigers on high, has been the subject of much criticism for his play and, most especially, his demeanor.
Cam takes losses hard. When you’re the team leader, you can’t take losses so hard that you depress the rest of the team. (This tends to lead, as night follows day, to more losing.) The wide receiver Steve Smith upbraided Newton on the sideline during the fourth quarter of Carolina’s awful Thursday-night loss to the Giants, and in the 10 days since that has become the talk of the Queen City.
(Side note: Charlotte is known as the Queen City. So is Cincinnati.)
About the Falcons: They’ve looked as good as any team in the league. They should win today. But Cam is capable of extraordinary things. One of his best days came in this building in December 2010. Which isn’t to say I’m picking Cam’s team to win 56-17 today. I like the Falcons by 10.
Whatever happens, I’ll be here to watch, comment and converse. I hope you’ll join me. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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1,070 comments Add your comment
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
3:51 pm
Julio is hurt…
MenVsBoys
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
3rd and 19. not good.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Ryan gets the ball to Rodgers. Short of the first down. Field goal.
And they trail by four points, as you might be aware
kerryb
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Tyson Clabo run over again. He is pathetic.
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Oh well….
Ballgame!!
jo
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Sacked again? Are we going to not punch it in again because of a bad o line? This could be the game.
80sFalcon
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Our Oline is sad
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Why kick a field goal when the defense can’t stop carolina?
MenVsBoys
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
Can’t finish the drive. Not good.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
They trail by a point, 4:57 left.
Falcons: Play 60!
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
settling for the FG will prove fatal
Sid
September 30th, 2012
3:52 pm
this o-line is awful.
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
They’ll run out the clock with ease now…..
Booooooooooo!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
Game Over…………..
Carolina will run this clock out…….
Bye Bye FRAUDS
HA HA
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
Lets see if that Mike Nolan D is for real.
Mora less Petrino
September 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
The O-line will be spending a lot of time in the film room this week!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
Hard to run out 4:57.
OLine blows
September 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
6 sacks against the Falcons. None on blitzes. Wow. Clabo getting schooled by a rookie. D hasn’t changed.
jo
September 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
Lack of TD on at least three drives may cost falcons game. Can our D play well offal sudden?
jerry
September 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
Falcon D susceptable to a big play now.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:55 pm
Direct snap to Williams. Gets a yard.
ijonathan
September 30th, 2012
3:55 pm
Carolina runs wildcat, Falcons say “thank you”
kerryb
September 30th, 2012
3:55 pm
Choke, there is no bigger fraud of a team than your team the Eagles and their pathetic QB that can’t stay healthy.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:55 pm
Stewart gets 2. Third and 7
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:55 pm
Celebrating on third down….bad idea.
80sFalcon
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Time to make a BIG D play
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Pressure on Cam from Abraham. Has to throw it away. They ran off 1:32.
rm
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
What’s that choke?
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Best D all day…
80sFalcon
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Nide D series!!
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
One more shot…..
Boooooooooooooo??
MenVsBoys
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Coverage must be good. Cam had all day and couldn’t get the completion.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
3:56 pm
Coordinator got too cute…
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
What was dummynique franks doing? Moron.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
But get a good bounce on the punt. Falcons at the 29, 3:16 left.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the NFL.
jo
September 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
Defensive miracle now offensives miracle???
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:57 pm
Jones breaks loose. Catches deep ball.
Out of bounds
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Bad throw?
ijonathan
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Damn
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Julio……fool
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
He was out. Couldn’t get the foot down.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Real refs!
MenVsBoys
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
On the line! Dang it!
DawgBonez
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
As soon as Bradley wrote that article about Julio being one of the greatest receivers of all time. He has stunk.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Ryan hit on throw but finds Turner. Third and 3
jo
September 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Need 40+ yards and to eat 3 min of clock.
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
Bring out Bosher…..
Boooooooooooooooo!
Sid
September 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
pathetic
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
Ryan rolls left and gets pushed out. Sack. Nowhere to throw.
The sack means the Falcons can’t try on fourth down. It’s now fourth and 11
MenVsBoys
September 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
Roll out is ALWAYS a disaster!