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
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Mike Smith hitting a coach……….
Commissioner are you watching?
K-Town Dawg
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Guess we won’t be hearing anything else from the guy that has been calling Matt Ryan a choke artist
JK
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Hey “Choke” how about now?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8E_zMLCRNg
Baby Punting
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Ends the game with a sack!!!
Chirp
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
So, class. What did we learn today? Michael Turner is washed up and Matt Ryan has no arm strength.
kerryb
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Where’s “Choke” all of a sudden. Knock Matty Ice now.
Ha
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Nice job today, Choke.
TCFATL
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
ENDS WITH A SACK ON A CHUMP
TN_Realist
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan=WnE LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Damn… what a finish!
Hat tip to Panthers for one helluva game!
MenVsBoys
September 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Go Pack! Get us a 4 game lead over the Saints!
K-Town Dawg
September 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
Oh, he’s moved on to other topics.
Seriously, don’t be such a sore loser
Roger
September 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
Again Choke Ryan is the fool of all fools……if you want to win money in Vegas, bet the opposite of whatever the fools says…hahaha
Todd Grantham
September 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
Can the Falcons go undefeated?
Mora less Petrino
September 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
The only thing in doubt today is if CHOKE’s hero will be the starting QB in Philly next week! Great teams pull out wins despite a sub-par effort.
Maxwell the free-range chihuahua
September 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
great call mr. bradley…
Falcon James
September 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
Titto, Get me some Tissue.
Cam Newton
DawgNole
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
me
September 30th, 2012
4:23 pm
The racist fool who posts on the blog under the name Matt “Choke” Ryan is just that. A racist fool. Everytime you open your dumb fat lips, you prove yourself to be a bigger racist.
______________________
AMEN!
me
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Hat tip to Panthers for one helluva game!
Not really. Horrible OLine play from Falcons. 7 sacks is not acceptable, even in peewee ball.
Sid
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Ryan and White were incredible there…..it wasn’t Ryan’s fault most of the game…he was running for his life. Great win…..maybe this is for real.
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Bradley….Maybe??? What are you smoking???
FalconUGAFan
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
GG Falcons..One more down!
80sFalcon
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
Very reminiscent of the Chicago game!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
30-24 48-21 24-2
Anybody want to share a lotter ticket?
HA HA
sack man
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
come on cam do your little dance now.
phil
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
I don’t know what to say…..
Engrave Roddy’s plaque now.
That stuff just doesn’t happen.
Wow!!!!
Todd Grantham
September 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
“Choke” just choked
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
48-21 24-2
How about a Pick 4?
HA HA
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
Pam Newton, wipe off that makeup and give us a smile!!!!
jerry
September 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
Carolina fans are jumping off buildings!!!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
Losers celebrate coming from behind at home to beat a 1-2 team….
HA HA
Falcon James
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
Have a coke and a smile Panthers!
Great game!!!
Todd Grantham
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
Told you Mark. That Carolina punt will go down in Carolina infamy
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
What a game
Maxwell the free-range chihuahua
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
gotta hang that loss on cam…
me
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
Ryan 25/40, 369 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT sacked 6/7 times
Newton 15/24, 215 YDS, 2 TD
Go Jackets
September 30th, 2012
4:29 pm
Name one good thing in College Park other than Woodward Academy?
Big Dog 89
September 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
Great game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JSS
September 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
There’s your 2010 San Francisco gift… But you guys will have this as a blowout (all of the underlying issues) will be swept under the rug… It is why I never get up and down with you when you go on your little tirades…
Denver Falcon
September 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
Would the clown who continuously spews “Ryan will CHOKE”, etc please (blank) my (blank) ???????????????????????????????????? that is all.
D.E.
September 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
MATT CHOKE RYAN CHOKES ON Peni&
GOBBLE GOBBLE LOSER
PMC
September 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
MATTY LEGEND!!!!!!! Nice catch RODDY!!!!!!!
ramblinwreck80
September 30th, 2012
4:30 pm
thank goodness I don’t believe in football gods…LOL
Go away "Choke"
September 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Last year I think the Falcons would have lost this game by more than a touchdown. They obviously didn’t have the right game plan and more obviously are going to have to fix problems with the O’line.
Matt "I got your Noodle" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Hey Choke I wonder what Vick will do?
MONKATL
September 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
ryans a winner baby!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
0-3
Is it the 2nd round of the playoffs yet?
Oh can’t be CHOKE is still playing………….
HA HA
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Bradley’s Question: Is Cam still Carolina’s man?
NOOOOO!!!! He’s Carolina’s Wonder Wo-Man!!!!
PMC
September 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Making plays now Fools!!!!!