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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,070 comments Add your comment
Pat
September 30th, 2012
2:51 pm
Nice play
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
WHAT A PLAY. 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
2:52 pm
Turner….I’ll drink to that!!!!!!
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
Turner!
Lol!!
CGD..
September 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
Eli steps up into the pocket, the other guy: Good luck
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
@Choke…..that’s THREE TD’s for Ryan….I know you can’t count that high
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Dink & Dunk…………
CHOKE can’t blow his nose without Turner, White and Julio……
HA HA
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
That, I believe, puts the Falcons ahead by 10 points.
Henry
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Vick is gonna get HUMILIATED tonight vs. the Giants.
ramblinwreck80
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Great nudge block by White to make sure Turner makes it into the end zone…
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
JSS – You’re right. MT cannot catch the ball, nor can he score after not catching it.
It’s all a nightmare,
Ivan
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
NICE PLAY!!! Gona be a good day. Falcons gona break it open in the 3rd. Go 4-0. Then get to watch the turnover king with the eagles show everyone how to choke on sunday night.
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Glad to see The Burner actually CAN still move a bit!
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Choke, are you cuddling up with you blow up Matty Ice doll right about now???
D.E.
September 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
That was a great play call
Henry
September 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
Dink & Dunk…………
CHOKE can’t blow his nose without Turner, White and Julio……
HA HA
__________________________________________-
Seriously? LOL What QB can live without his weapons? None. You azzwhipe.
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
First? Wow.
Congrats.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:54 pm
That pass traveled maybe five yards, but it needed some finesse on it. And finesse was forthcoming.
Sid
September 30th, 2012
2:55 pm
didn’t know Turner could run that fast.
FALCONSRUS
September 30th, 2012
2:55 pm
Ice to burner ice to burner do you copy /? roger that ice this is burner i’m down and gone choke? choke ? Cherk ha ha ho
MFranklin
September 30th, 2012
2:56 pm
If the D steps up now… the game is ours
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:56 pm
Let’s see what the Panthers have as a response. Besides a false start.
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
2:57 pm
@JSS…..ooohhhh, a bitter bitter sad and angry man you are….God bless your poor soul….
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
2:57 pm
Throwing it to Steve Smith is usually a good place to begin.
DawgNole
September 30th, 2012
2:57 pm
ramblinwreck80
September 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Great nudge block by White to make sure Turner makes it into the end zone…
_____________________
Good observation on your part. That was a critical nudge–and skillfully executed to avoid a clip.
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:57 pm
If ifs and buts…..
Chirp
September 30th, 2012
2:58 pm
It’s so pleasant to sit back, ignore the negativism, and enjoy watching Michael Turner have a good day. Last week, on these blog responses, he was all washed up. Some of those people still show up here.
What’s more interesting is the game plan. Carolina thought they knew who the Falcon’s are. At that precise moment in the season, Koetter comes out with the run.
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
Lol ray edwards
phil
September 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
Spoon!
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
2:59 pm
lord he had all day to throw
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:00 pm
D playin soft….
Fire Nolan!!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:01 pm
Late flag. Officials discussing it. Picking it up
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:02 pm
Carolina is showing me something here.
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:02 pm
Boooooooooooo!!
Henry
September 30th, 2012
3:02 pm
Who the hell is Ray Edwards?
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
3:02 pm
Wooo that should have been a pick 6!
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Time for helmet to helmet on Scam!!
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Non-existent pass rush…..
Good QBs will shred us.
ramblinwreck80
September 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
yeah DawgNole…was cringing watching the live play hoping he wasn’t going to give a big shove and possibly get called for a penalty…he did it just right!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:04 pm
Falcons blitzed. Newton read it. First and goal.
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:04 pm
Sad.
No contain?
Boooooooooooo!!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2012
3:05 pm
Touchdown.
This is a fine football game.
JSS
September 30th, 2012
3:05 pm
Ha ha, that credit card statement hit the button! Kaboom!!!
Spartacus
September 30th, 2012
3:05 pm
Pam dances like Wonder Woman too!
J.J.M.
September 30th, 2012
3:05 pm
Lol a town stomp…falcons don’t like it better get pass rush and do something bout it
phil
September 30th, 2012
3:05 pm
So soft, like Charmin….
This is ridiculous.
ramblinwreck80
September 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
overpersuit by the “D” on Cam is getting them burned…
Falcons: Play 60!
September 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
if the Panthers are this tough when they’re playing them at home …. a few of the later games just got even tougher
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
Can’t even put away a 1-2 team and want to be contenders…..
FRAUDS………………
HA HA
Lakewood
September 30th, 2012
3:07 pm
Cam Newton is not bad. Have to answer here. Our D is coming up empty.