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
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Great play, Matt…..
Sigh.
Boooooooooooooooo!!
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Whats up with the sacks today. Hard to win with just FGa
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Poor Falcants……………
They still haven’t beaten a good team and can’t handle the 1-2 Panthers……………..
HA HA
Told ya CHOKE needs those turnovers to score….ha ha
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
And yet I will see you at the end of the game 4-0 Mr. Whistler…..lol
Lakewood
September 30th, 2012
1:30 pm
Geez. Ryan is crumbling back to earth. Again, what is Clabo doing??
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
WELCOME BACK REFS!! SCREWING THE FALCONS ALREADY!!
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
As for you “choke”on you a true punk……Vick fan? Lol. Yea right.
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
We might be brought down to earth today.
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
We go down by 14 its a long day….cant afford an off day against this bad team.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
I’m laughing at you FOOLS & your elite qb….HA HA HA
I TOLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
HA HA ………………..
He fools you guys everrrrrrrrrry year……
HA HA
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:32 pm
“FANS” relax….geez you act like its the end of the game pipe down and chill
FALCONSRUS
September 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
how ya doing today mike cherk vick ha ha ha
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Chipper Jones…..tough day
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
30-24 48-21 24-2
Those numbers are not there by accident
HA HA
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
JO if we go down by 14 we still win….relax man!
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
We need some D !
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Neither is Vicks #’s……lol!
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Its not a blog unless there is panic and recriminations.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Carolina punting. Cam had a man open and threw it behind him.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
There goes your D!
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Is akeem dent even on this team still?
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
Trying to relax, maybe the defense can answer.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
I believe the latest data shows that no team trailing 7-0 has rallied to win an NFL contest since 1962.
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
Yes!
BullDogMike
September 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
Well, I knew a week like this would happen , just figured it would come from a better team than Carolina. Defense a no show , and O line looks completely lost…
FALCONSRUS
September 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
thats my new name for the ocd dude “cherk”
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:35 pm
Fire Mike Smith!!
We’re not ready….
Fire Nolan too!!
And sell the team back to the Smith family!
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
See you guys back in the red zone again in a few….looks like teams want to double Julio and it appears they are doing that today! Do they learn? Turner on the way back down and the rest of the gang to follow…..look for HD on this drive.
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
I would love to see one deep ball attempt to julio though
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
Every blog bans trolls except the AJC
JSS
September 30th, 2012
1:37 pm
Bradley, 62 was a great year
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:37 pm
A great run by Turner. Seriously.
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
1:37 pm
Looks like Turner went on the wagon.
falcondawg
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
There’s the Burner!!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Not to say I told you so … but this is why they still need Turner. Everybody’s playing the pass and leaving holes.
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Keep running and playaction later
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Told you big day from Turner! And when that safety comes down …..trouble for that secondary!
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Run blocking good today, pass, not so much…
Go figure.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Touchdown. Long ball to Roddy.
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
There we go Turner.
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Noodle arm!
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Noodle arm!?
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Lol I CALLED IT!
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Great throw!
Attaboy matt!!
Henry
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
BOOM!!!! 7-7 Told ya CHOKE! HAHAHAHAHA
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
WHAT A DEEP BALL. EAT IT HATERS!!!
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Whistling!
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
1:39 pm
Noodle Arm Baby!
FALCONSRUS
September 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
hey “cherk”how you like us now
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
Atlanta has the opportunity to become the first NFL team since ‘62 to overcome a 7-0 deficit and win. What a moment this could be!!!