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 "I got your Noodle" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
CHOKE CHOKE CHOKE you are such a JOKE
hey now.....
September 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
This team is for real! “Choke”…come get your mom, she’s insatiable…I’m trying to enjoy a win here
Go Jackets
September 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
JC…..ur right….thought the Chik HQ was further north. TY sir for the geography lesson……..now tel me bout the public schools.
Mora less Petrino
September 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
Ryan had 369 yards passing! The way the O-line played, that is a super.
Jeremiah Wright
September 30th, 2012
4:44 pm
Great win ! ! !
…………….and why does JSS come here?
Sid
September 30th, 2012
4:44 pm
winning the game and watching “Scam” pout…..priceless.
Once Recent Reader
September 30th, 2012
4:45 pm
Choke . . .I hope you are working your Grad Thesis . . ..as this is Year 5 I’ve been around on the AJC Falcon blogs and I think you’ve been around the whole time.
JK
September 30th, 2012
4:45 pm
Great comeback be we gotta do a better job against the run and the O-line is still shaky at times.
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
4:45 pm
We got dominated all game and still won!
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
I saw that mv7 influence on cam when he fumbled away the game…is that what u mean by redefining the position?
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
I saw that mv7 influence on cam when he fumbled away the game…is that what u mean by redefining the position?
I own you
September 30th, 2012
4:47 pm
Oh Cam, you never cease to amuse…child-like behavior…pretending to be a superhero…pouting…being a sore lose…egocentricity…you’re a manic-depressive with high highs and low lows…keep it up, loser. Sorry about this clown, Charlotte.
Jeremiah Wright
September 30th, 2012
4:47 pm
I saw MS upset with that coach. Was he black?
Roger
September 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
Choke Ryan and doing a thesis is funny…..what kind of research or
You doing? What methods? U dumb a know nothing about research methods…you a pie eyed fool on glue
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
Yea, I am guessing mcr already has the highest honors in stupidity.
Once Recent Reader
September 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
JK . . . I agree – they had a tough time against the run. I credit that more to playing against Cam Newton who adds that extra QB Run Option. They have done OK against the previous 3 teams . .. .am I correct on that?
Go Jackets
September 30th, 2012
4:49 pm
I can throw a laptop further than Choke….but not as far as SCAM.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
Smith for 3…
The same reason they don’t ban Answer this (and his multiple user-name), Larry, or _ _ _ Ray, he’s entitled to say it…
Jeremiah Wright
September 30th, 2012
4:51 pm
, or JSS
joe cox
September 30th, 2012
4:51 pm
nice to see an ACC product outplay an SEC one!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
Yes guys when I was assigned that thesis on “stupidity” I was kind of skeptical I could still find a community that would get me a passing score, let alone an A+, but then I remembered Atlanta and 50 years of no rings…..
Well I just am so pleased. Throw a little red mead and you FOOLs are like vultures…………
STUPIDITY is alive and well in the ATL……….
HA HA
Thanks guys.
ZinoDawg
September 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
@Choke – you look like a tool and a fool man. You obviously hate Matt Ryan so that 60 yard hookup to Roddy must have really hurt. LOL!
Esquire
September 30th, 2012
4:53 pm
You could tell the Panthers played 10 days ago, they looked fresh.
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
4-0 YES SIR!!!!!
phil
September 30th, 2012
4:53 pm
We’ll get there, it looks like…..
Let’s do something with it.
How in the name of the Swamp Fox did we win that game? It was basically given to us……whew.
Jeremiah Wright
September 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
But JSS, you still try to trap and goad him into getting banned.
……………working on your “Alinsky Award.”
Nicki
September 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
It appeared that the coach and the owner were in a tuff? Do you know what that was about?
JSS
September 30th, 2012
4:55 pm
@ phil…
You played a team with a weak secondary… Enjoy the present…
JSS
September 30th, 2012
4:58 pm
@ phil…
I love that fantasy island is open… See 4:54P and 4:55P…
Esquire
September 30th, 2012
4:58 pm
phil September 30th, 2012 4:53 pm
How in the name of the Swamp Fox did we win that game? It was basically given to us……whew.
*******************************************************
Given to us……………………..not one bit given…………we had to earn every little bit. And we are lucky to get Matt Ryan out of there in one piece.
Jeremiah Wright
September 30th, 2012
4:58 pm
4 and 0 ! ! ! Pound sand, Choke JSS Seen and hiram
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
See you guys later….gotta go clean my room
JSS
September 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Your problem is that you have no limits, thus you’ve create this battle that has never existed… Good luck with that and don’t have a stroke trying to work out another fantasy…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
5:01 pm
Nicki
September 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
It appeared that the coach and the owner were in a tuff? Do you know what that was about?
_____________________________________
And while you’re at it Mark, see if you can find out how Smith gets away with laying his hands in an aggressive way on coaches.
phil
September 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
JSS – believe me, I’m enjoying it! That was terrific stuff, if you’re a fan!
That said, i have no real longterm delusions. We have issues and better fix em.
But this is my pro team, so gotta love em regardless…
Esquire
September 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
Everybody now…………………….
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
JK
September 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
Choke is an awful man – what sensible person goes onto a rival team’s fan blog to tear that team’s fans down?? But in a way he’s right. Falcons need to really take it to the next level this year and win in the playoffs. Otherwise it’s all a tempest in a teapot. And it goes beyond Matt Ryan. It’s the O-line, the coaching, the defense.
phil
September 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
Esquire – the 60 yard pass should never happen. You know it. I know it.
But glad it did!
Esquire
September 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
Big Game Roddy White!!!!
jo
September 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
Didnt think we would pull that off but ill take it. We have some work on The O line!
phil
September 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
Mike Smith is a racist for pushing a black coach….
My guess is the stupid coach was about to do something to really mess us up.
ZinoDawg
September 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
The only thing that matters is getting the Win.
Dawgs
September 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
I think the Falcons should consult Paul Johnson and ask him how he runs his offense.
phil
September 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
Roddy White = Hall of Famer
He’s getting there. Keep it up!
Not So Fast
September 30th, 2012
5:07 pm
Jeez Rodgers just had so much time in the pocket he could of read War and Peace in the pocket.
creative
September 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
yall do realize that @Choke is just trying to get under your skin and make people believe that he really has those beliefs. He’s a white dude in a dorm room that is getting a kick out of everyone’s responses. In other words…he’s not real. I do it all the time on political blogs to get people fired up. Sound. Kudos to you though @Choke. Pretty funny stuff. I love it dude. With that said what a helluva win. First time in years I was on my knees in front of the TV like a mental patient yelling and screaming and actually had everything work out. Of course I am a Tech fan so whenever it is close and we need a play we fail. Keep it up Choke. You are doing a good job getting people fired up for nothing. Great Work!!!
JSS
September 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
@ phil…
Look at the source of trying to stir it up…
phil
September 30th, 2012
5:12 pm
It’s good stuff! I like the “troll” types. Makes the small-brained come totally unglued.
Esquire
September 30th, 2012
5:12 pm
phil
September 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
Esquire – the 60 yard pass should never happen. You know it. I know it.
But glad it did!
********************************************
Roddy got open and went up and got that ball. I guess you could say Cam’s fumble that negated the first down should never happen…………but it did.
Go Jackets
September 30th, 2012
5:14 pm
@ Dawgs…..no they shouldnt……we be a HOT MESS atm!
creative
September 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
im really choke, but i could be you or me or JSS