Wednesday, February 10, 2016

GROW UP, CAM

A wise man once told me, “If you’re gonna take shots, back it up!” I will do so now...


My fellow BYB'er, Erica Morales wrote a great piece defending the recent post game behavior of Panther’s QB Cam Newton. I too agree that it is ABSOLUTELY understandable to be totally disappointed after a Super Bowl loss. It’s what you dream about as a little kid playing in the backyard. The biggest game there is for an NFL player. The biggest stage! Against one of the greatest QBs to play the position…sure, we’d all be pissed, saddened and in a foul mood. But how you handle it is the measure of the man/ woman.


Cam Newton is an extremely gifted athlete. He plays the game with passion and is a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Do I mind the celebrations? Not one bit…after a touchdown. But after a first down? Yeah, just do YOUR JOB and keep the chains moving. That’s my opinion. Maybe it’s not yours…that’s OK too.


My biggest beef with Cam is he wants it both ways. He’ll claim that people don’t like him because he’s a black quarterback…all due respect, BULLSH*T! Yeah, I KNOW there are some simpletons out there that look at the color of a man’s skin, but believe it or not Cam some don’t like you because you seem like a bratty showboat who is all about the name on the back of the jersey. And the behavior displayed after the game Sunday was PROOF positive of that. End. Of. The. Story.


I am a big fan of the player who can be a leader on and off the field. Think back to Tim Wakefield after the 2003 Aaron Boone walk off. Is there a greater defeat as a pitcher? He gave up a dinger to the New York Yankees with the Boston Red Sox inches from reversing the imaginary curse! And did Timmy give a moody teen’s excuse for a presser? No, he faced the music, tipped his cap to the Yankees and vowed to be back. I’m I nuts to expect a similar response from a National Football League QB? NOPE!


Look, Cam wants to be the man…well, ACT LIKE ONE! You got beat by a defense that was absolutely relentless. They were BETTER than you, they just didn’t play better. They abused Carolina’s bigger O line! They pursued like a pack of hungry wolves and covered like a squadron of F-18 Hornets. The BRONCOS are Champions for a reason. Tip you cap and quiet your critics…not as a black quarterback, but as an NFL MVP quarterback that took it on the chin.

This is pretty simple. Cam Newton has the talent to be in the conversation with names like Marino, Montana, Aikman, Favre and Young. But maturity and accountability are PARAMOUNT to being in the company of those men. 




And as of this moment Cam Newton is closer to Johnny Football than Johnny Unitas. To defend him is to enable that type of behavior…I’m not making that play. When it comes to backing the young Carolina QB I’ll punt.

** I think Cam is the NFL equivalent of this kid. Talented? Sure, but who cares…he is just a solo act that who we all got tired of quick. **


  



 
--Mike O'Hara Senior "Features" Writer
Twitter: @mikeyoh21






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