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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JOHNNY FOOTBALL BLOWS IT AGAIN!

It’s yet another story of an athlete who has disappointed his team and his fans by failing in a very public way. This time, it is Johnny Manziel. Literally days after being named the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, and getting some reinforcement on the importance of personal conduct and his responsibilities to his team, a video surfaced of him partying and doing exactly what he was warned not to do.

By now you might be checking the URL above because you could have sworn you went to the Bleeding Yankee Blue site for the latest and greatest news about the Yankees. Relax. You’re in the right place. So why are we talking about Johnny Football’s antics? Because the contrast is striking between this story and a recent one about substance abuse within our own team. Of course, I’m talking about CC Sabathia’s recent stint in rehab to address his issues with alcohol.  CC got a lot of support from the Yankees, his teammates, and the majority of his fans. It was the right thing to do. You have to admire how transparent he was and how proactive he was in dealing with that kind of issue. Yes, it was the day before the playoffs, which seemed to upset some fans. But some issues are bigger than a game or a series, and you have to address them accordingly.

Manziel’s issues are certainly bigger than his game. You have to feel for the Cleveland Browns. They want to win just like any other team. They have a first round pick, they need a QB, and they take a kid who they believe will have an impact. It didn’t take long to see they had a problem on their hands. By the time they reached training camp, they had already spoken to him about his behavior and are openly expressing concern. Then he gives the finger in a televised preseason game. By then, Head Coach Mike Pettine realizes that this kid is not ready for prime time.

I would run out of room listing out all the incidents, comments, and controversies that have surrounded Manziel. His coaches met and yesterday decided to demote him to 3rd string quarterback. You have to admire their courage to demand better from their players. Let’s face it – the only reason he’s 3rd string is because they don’t have a 4th quarterback. They sent him straight to the bottom of the depth chart, which should be a clear message to him and anyone who is watching.

I get that he’s 22 years old, and maybe when he’s older he’ll have a chance to redeem himself. Right now, Johnny Football is living for Johnny Football. Personally, I am glad that accountability still exists in some places. Call me a dinosaur, but I believe you should work to be the best person you can be and that whatever you do, you should do it with honor and discipline. If you make mistakes, you don’t just pay it lip service. You don’t say things like “I have to take it a lot more seriously than maybe I did at first. This is my life and my job, and I'm 100 percent committed to that" and then fail to show up for a team practice 4 days later because you were out drinking the night before. You own up, take responsibility, and you do what you have to do to make things right for yourself, for your family, and in the case of professional athletes, for your team. You know. Like CC did.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon







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