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 "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:34 pm
30-24 48-21 24-2
Got your Mega lotter tickets yet?
Oh my bad that’s the Falcants last 3 playoff games………..
HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:35 pm
48-21 24-2
Anybody want in on my pick 4 tickets?
HA HA
Henry
September 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
Is that all you got CHOKE?
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
Choke….losers live in the past….winners live for the moment and the future. By that definition, we all know what you are…
Charlotte Observer?
September 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
Seriously Mark Bradley – How about we focus a bit on the Falcons!?
jerry
September 30th, 2012
2:37 pm
They have lost to NE, Dallas, Philly twice, GB twice, NO 6 times, NYG, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Da Bears, all in the last 3 years when Ryan was not a rookie.
jo
September 30th, 2012
2:37 pm
Being up at half is good since we played only Ok. Need D to clamp down on the TDs a little bit and the offense to score at least 2 more TDs!
Kew
September 30th, 2012
2:37 pm
If any of thought that the Panthers wasn’t going to put a fight after what happened to them tier last game is crazy. They are professionals too and who said that the Falcons was going to blow every team out this. That isn’t going never happen. We are 3-0 so every team is going to shoot for us to be the first team to defeat us. Even the great teams like the Patriots, Giants, Steelers have tough games.
georgianna bulltiger
September 30th, 2012
2:38 pm
Hey Jerry, who have they lost to this season?
CGD..
September 30th, 2012
2:38 pm
Whats Captain [DEER IN HEADLIGHT] SMITH RECORD?
0-4 AFTER THE NEXT PLAYOFF BEAT DOWN..
atlfalconsfan0125
September 30th, 2012
2:38 pm
We better make some adjustments.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
2:38 pm
@ Phil…
And they always wonder why certain bloggers rake them over the coals?
Henry
September 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
@ Jerry, we’ve also beaten Philly, GB, NO, and Chicago. Beat Chicago his rookie and 2nd year.
jerry
September 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
Nobody, and I do attribute most of the losses to BVG and Mularkey and growing pains.
CGD..
September 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
a must win today! zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:40 pm
jerry
September 30th, 2012
2:37 pm
They have lost to NE, Dallas, Philly twice, GB twice, NO 6 times, NYG, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Da Bears, all in the last 3 years when Ryan was not a rookie.
___________________________________________
I must say FACTS don’t play well around here………..
HA HA
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
2:41 pm
I think vick just threw another pick
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
Gona be a good day. Falcons gona break it open in the 3rd. Go 4-0. Then get to watch the turnover king Vick show everyone how to choke on sunday night.
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
JSS….you sure seem to be “a glass if half full” kinda guy…..just sayin…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
Last 2 playoff games vs Green Bay & Giants………72-23
Beautiful baby
Kew
September 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
We did the same thing in KC but then we made halftime adjustments and then blew the game away.
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
True, JSS…
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
Lots of empty seats today….
Typical atlanta.
CGD..
September 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
4-10= PRETENDERS
10-4= CONTENDERS
Bath Salts are illegal. Heh heh heh
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
This isn’t KC we’re playing….
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:43 pm
Matty bicep….I’m sure it’s been used before, but it’s Mike “Pick” Vick….
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
2:44 pm
Oh oh, Vick just fumbled
Henry
September 30th, 2012
2:44 pm
Even if we do win a playoff game or even a Super Bowl, CHOKE will still be on here saying something about Matt Ryan. He’s jealous. Face it.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asF8rL7A4S8
I still think Traymon Williams is still running…..
HA HA
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
Tackle someone!!
Pitiful.
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
So Vick has a pick and a fumble today, but the eagles don’t play until 8..
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
30-24 48-21 24-2
Is that Mega or Powerball?
HA HA
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
54 celebrating too soon…
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
That’s more like it!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
Meanwhile, back at the ballgame …
Panthers took the kickoff and did nothing with it. Falcons get it back.
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick,Pick Vick
lol
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
Newton looked like Vick running the wrong way…yep Vick redefined the QB position alright.
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
2:48 pm
Since Turner’s sober today, go ahead and give him the ball.
Pat
September 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
I am waiting for cam to start crying
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
Okee dokee… now, let’s see if we can extend this lead by a few points… #2, you pass to Roddy, JJ and TG. No more run perty…
JSS
September 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
@ 2:42P
Who cares what you think… That is why they invented the refill…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
72 Million and zero playoff wins
vs
30 Million 5 playoff wins….2 championship games……
Any economist on here?
HA HA
Matty bicep
September 30th, 2012
2:49 pm
Ryan 3-0 against vick and scam
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
Is JJ out again?
CGD..
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
7-9,8-8, 8-8…..
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Woo hoo!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
TD on a dinky little screen that Turner popped.
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
JSS = bitter old curmudgeon, needs a hug from someone, anyone…
eddie willers
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
That’s what a clear head will get you. Stay clean Michael.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Turner can’t catch a football…