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
Kew
September 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
I hope the Falcons don’t think that no one is going to play against them. They need to bring their selves down.
Lakewood
September 30th, 2012
1:13 pm
They looked out of sorts before they ran the first play.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
I see the haters out early also! They have begged for a game like this! Lol keep whistling haters! Lol
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
Falcants fans…..talk to me…………
What’s with all the sad faces?
HA HA
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:14 pm
Either the dome is empty or people are still filling in…or they are going to the braves game…or they might be saving their money for the dream
Henry
September 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
Success attracts haters. That’s all I gotta say.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
Regarding that: I just checked traffic. Downtown Connector is slammed.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
HAVE patience Rise Up Nation…..any given Sunday….dont get shook! just going to make adjustments early today and be ok.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
Yes. I wouldn’t get too upset just yet. Generally speaking, not many NFL games wind up 7-0.
Bravissimo
September 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
uh choke..ur showing your true colors…leave the politics out of the blog please!
Kew
September 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
Matt Choke, this game is no where over…calm down because in the end you are the one that will be eating crow.
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
Henry – this is the FALCONS…..
One score could be all it takes with these softies…
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
But I have to believe Mike Smith is standing there saying, “I TOLD these guys it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Tiptoe Turner…..sigh
Dave
September 30th, 2012
1:17 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan….you sound just like Supersize, go play in the street or something
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
Looking better. Across the 50.
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
A bit better…
waynester
September 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
So far this year we’ve started with a lead. We need the experience of trailing early and playing from behind early in the season. We operate best with a lead but every every game can’t be that way and you play different when you’re always ahead. Good experience for the inevitable ups and downs of a long season….
Lakewood
September 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
Running Turner is about as useful as an incomplete pass.
playmeortrademe
September 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
why is it the field in Detroit looks great, while the field in the dome looks like ugly green shag carpet on TV?
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
May come down to stopping Cam today. I am sure we can put up 24 points or more on these guys.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
I see the Donut shop is open as usual………..
Dink & Dunk…. zzzzzz
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:20 pm
The Burner!
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Yessssss
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Nice drive. Nice mix of plays.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Falcons had SEVEN offensive linemen in there.
GetReady
September 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
waynester
September 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
So far this year we’ve started with a lead. We need the experience of trailing early and playing from behind early in the season. We operate best with a lead but every every game can’t be that way and you play different when you’re always ahead. Good experience for the inevitable ups and downs of a long season….
*************************
Schedule hasn’t been very challenging yet.
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
Burner….yes
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
Panthers had 12 men on the field. Although one was running to get off the field. Didn’t make it.
Henry
September 30th, 2012
1:25 pm
I told ya. 7-7.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:25 pm
You still whistling?
Told you guys temper it…cant score on every opening drive! Now the Angry Birds D will show you adjustments.
We will score today and score often and like I said earlier Turner for a big day!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:25 pm
Offensive interference.
Those darn replacement refs. (Oh, wait.)
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
Bad call
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
Idiots….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
@Henry
Told me what?
HA HA
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Horrible call
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Thanks, Norman…
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Carolina personal foul. So now it’s first-and-goal from the 5. This is taking a while.
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
Boooooooooooo!
GetReady
September 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
Oops
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:28 pm
Now a sack. Third and goal from the 13.
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
Well falcons have had their chances
waynester
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
A little adversity early on builds TEAM identity (especially if you overcome it). Of course, it can be damaging, depending on how your guys react to it, but that’s where coaching comes in. I think we’ve got some good ones and times like this give us a chance to find out for sure….
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
Turner trips over a lineman…..18 plays later, still can’t score….
Loss coming up?
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
And now an interception. Holy moley.
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
He led with the helmet, his helmet is the first thing to make contact with the other guy’s helmet and the announcers say…”I don’t know…..
JSS
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
More whistling…
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
Bad throw by Ryan. Cost three points.
But nobody was open. Carolina is playing some defense here.
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
WOW
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
who didn’t see that coming? Once again ryan stares down his WR