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
ZinoDawg
September 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
Sweet pass.
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
With Turnergoing passing can be explosive too!
ijonathan
September 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
Love the well aimed sarcasm, MB.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
Lol great post Bradley!
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
Choke will do his usual cry in the corner by the 3rd qrtr. Probably with a txt to Vick to call him so they can “talk”
Go away "Choke"
September 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
Maybe the “Chokes” of the world will go away now….
FalconFan
September 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
WOW!!! 49 yards! Where’s that so called “Noodle Arm???!!!”
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
Every squirrel gets a nut on a windy day…………
HA HA
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
Hey, I know how it works. I used to sweat bullets when the Steelers — my team back in the day — only led by 21 points.
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
Noodle!!! Wow, we were behind for almost 5 minutes thru 4 games….bust!
falcondawg
September 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
Hope this fired the defense up!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
Falcons have it back. Fumble on the reverse.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
7-7 VS a 1-2 team………..Impressive……….
HA HA
falcondawg
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
WOOOHOOO!
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
FUMBLE!!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
Ray Edwards with the recovery.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
Thats that Angry Bird D!
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:43 pm
Steve smith is a punk, like Scam……
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:44 pm
Theres that defense!!!
ijonathan
September 30th, 2012
1:44 pm
Dunta with a tomahawk that Wilkins would be proud of.
falcondawg
September 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Looks like Smith is pouting now. Cam needs to talk to him.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Angry Birds D. I’m thinking about stealing that.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Such the hater choke….gets old ….stupid that you watching the game play by play…..and you don’t like Ryan or the team…….did i say stupid!?
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
I’m really tired of all these screen passes. Bring back Mularkey.
jo
September 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Now we are talking!
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Hey Choke….still wearing Vick’s old jock on your head, huh?
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Lol Mark
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Like I said….CHOKE needs turnovers to look more mediocre than he already is
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Coming from you Bradley thats a compliment! But I have to give props to Pam Oliver from last week…she has the patent…
Go away "Choke"
September 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Don’t knock it if it works Bradley.
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Larry wayne jones…..great play!
Kaptain Krazy
September 30th, 2012
1:47 pm
Every squirrel gets a nut on a windy day…………
_______________________________________________
Windy??? Really??? Do I have to say it?
Henry
September 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
CHOKE that doesn’t even make sense. He needs turnovers? Isn’t that the point of playing defense? To give the ball back to your QB? You’re an idiot sir.
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
1:48 pm
Hey, Mark…I remember Y. A. Tittle’s tweet after that wacky 62 game.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Sack. But also a face mask.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/8/27/3273114/angry-birds-teams-up-with-philadelphia-eagles-for-facebook-game
Go steal another nickname…..that one already is teamed up with the Eagles………….
Frauds
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Answer this: it’s called projection. Choke hates himself for having a secret man-crush on Ryan…therefore he’s bashing him
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Ryan needs to throw the ball away though
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:49 pm
Why is ryan holding on to the ball and taking sacks? Good grief.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
1:50 pm
JSS
September 30th, 2012
12:44 pm
“Good luck Mark Bradley, you’re gonna need it… Snarky Central is smelling their top lips!”
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:51 pm
Carolina is bringing the heat. Falcons can’t block them — at least they haven’t yet.
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:51 pm
So why are we getting away from the run
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:51 pm
Gave Ryan time then. Pass to Julio broken up on the goal line.
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
Carolinad D stepped up
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
Take the 3 off the turnover and the lead
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
Falcons lead. An amazing comeback.
Yes, I’m kidding. This is the NFL, where everybody makes comebacks.
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
Ill take it!
Kaptain Krazy
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
I guess “the wind” aided Bryant on the FG…..
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
So the special teams gives him a turnover on the Carolina 21 and he goes backwards?…..
CHUMP
Lakewood
September 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
Nakumura is playing out of his butt. What a joke