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
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
Falcons did gain 142 yards in the first quarter.
kevkat
September 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
Defense must continue to step it up until the offense get it together…hopefully. What happened to running the football?
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:54 pm
Simple way to keep charles johnson in check is by running draws and screens
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:54 pm
Wasn’t Nakamura beaten on the touchdown?
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
1:54 pm
Choke’s calling the Falcons frauds….who’s the biggest fraud this season other than Vick: $100 million contract, turnover machine, 2 lucky wins DESPITE Vick’s antics….
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:54 pm
By the way no wind in the Bird nest AKA THE DOME……so it looks like another crappy post Choke…put your left hand to your neck and follow with your right and do what your screen names says…
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:55 pm
Mark – don’t sound like chip caray in print.
Stay sarcastic and candid….
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:55 pm
I’m still amazed how harry douglas is not getting the ball in the slot though
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
Yea he was beaten if he throws that 1 more foot ti the sideline its 6….but a good play by the defender
Go away "Choke"
September 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
Special teams wasn’t on the field at the time Choke. Learn a little about football and come back.
Charleston Jacket
September 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
Love the uni’s. Would love to see them come back as the standard uniform. Defense getting gashed at the moment
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Still no pass rush
phil
September 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Our D is a fraud…
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Great throw to Smith. Carolina playing pretty doggone well.
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Too easy
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Williams up the middle. Panthers lead.
Falcons had no response on that drive. Totally wrong-footed.
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
Asi was saying….
Booooooooooooooo!!
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
yikes, looks like the UGA defense
Go away "Choke"
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
Falcons need some pressure on Newton or it is going to be like the UGA-TN game last night.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
Got to make some adjustments on tbis running game
JSS
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
Whistling, finally someone runs at them!
Charleston Jacket
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
Not looking too good at the moment. Let’s see what Matty can do.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
Poor Falcants………….
They complain the media shows them no love, then when they get it….
This is what they do…..
HA HA
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
Boooooo!!
Hiss!!!!
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
First back and forth game for the Falcons this year. We will learn alot from the boys today.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
A Panther fan now JSS….sigh you old also…..this running game will nit be this good in the second half
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
Where is sidbury?
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
The KC game went back and forth for a while. If you count the Chiefs tying it as back and forth.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
I expected this today….its a divisional game….but be easy Nation….we will make adjustments to this running game
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
Back to reality……………..
Don’t complain about the media dissin’ your sorry butts………….
Frauds…………..
HA HA
JSS
September 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
Nope, I’m a fan of running at middle to the right side of Falcons defense line!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
Sidbury? He’s siddin’ on the bench.
Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
kevkat
September 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
The KC game went back and forth for a while. If you count the Chiefs tying it as back and forth.
I agree MB..but I tends to think these are not one’s Kansas City Chiefs….
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
The thing is falcons are not hitting cam at all even if they are not sacks. He’s getting comfortable in the pocket
falcondawg
September 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
Our coordinators have done an excellent job making adjustments at halftime. Hope the same holds true today.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
Amazing how the losers hang around a teams blog they dont like…..lol.
tony
September 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
The falcons are still weak in the trenches. We need Sheldon Richardson. No more OLD MAN FOOTBALL! Get it right this time Dimitroff. Draft Sheldon Richardson!
JSS
September 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
You are always making it personal… Been saying it for 3 weeks, run at their right side
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:06 pm
Almost another interception. Ryan does look confused. Good defenses can do that.
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:08 pm
Matty is locking in a little to hard on receivers right now….maybe a few more screens will get him comfy. I would like to see a zone blitz or a few run blitzes on this drive
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:08 pm
I must say…..CHOKE is not looking very MVP like today
HA HA
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
Not making it personal JSS just dont know why you eould want to be here…..
If you not a fan. I respect your blog but hey 95% on here are fans with positive feedback…not negative feedback
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
Nice tackle by Asante Samuel. Third down.
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
Nice play….
waynester
September 30th, 2012
2:10 pm
Ryan has some bad tendencies when rattled–like staring down his target–maybe we should get him a visor….
Answer this
September 30th, 2012
2:11 pm
Not personal JSS I respect your blog….just confuses me why you cant be positive and even more confused that you dont like this team but are here giving assessments
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:11 pm
David Ross, 3 run homer!
3-0 bravos.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:12 pm
Three and out.
This is a pretty good ballgame, I have to say. Both teams playing tough.
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:12 pm
New name for Cam Newton…..Pam Newton….lol
ramblinwreck80
September 30th, 2012
2:13 pm
Cam the Sham…