This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/cam-newton-proves-theres-a-place-for-a-brash-quarterback-in-todays-nfl/2016/01/20/50dbed8a-bfcd-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cam Newton proves there’s a place for a brash quarterback in today’s NFL Cam Newton proves there’s a place for a brash quarterback in today’s NFL
(35 minutes later)
If you’re not sitting vigil with the Tom Brady-Peyton Manning rivalry this week, you’re left to make sense of marvelous and mercurial Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. The attention is on the great old quarterbacks, but this has been Newton’s season, and the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals may be his moment to make a definitive proclamation that will twist the knickers of the fun police and sportsmanship patrol.If you’re not sitting vigil with the Tom Brady-Peyton Manning rivalry this week, you’re left to make sense of marvelous and mercurial Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. The attention is on the great old quarterbacks, but this has been Newton’s season, and the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals may be his moment to make a definitive proclamation that will twist the knickers of the fun police and sportsmanship patrol.
The entire NFL soon will be Newton’s, too.The entire NFL soon will be Newton’s, too.
Love him. Hate him. Be baffled by him. It doesn’t really matter. Newton is 26 years old, about to be crowned MVP and starring alongside a young, elite defense. He is a pop-culture tour de force, turning the dab into the year’s copycat dance sensation. Some dab to be like him. Others dab to mock him. It doesn’t really matter. After amassing 18,263 passing yards, 3,207 rushing yards and 160 touchdowns in his first five pro seasons, Newton is closer to Canton, Ohio, than to the disgrace that some predicted when he arrived in the NFL.Love him. Hate him. Be baffled by him. It doesn’t really matter. Newton is 26 years old, about to be crowned MVP and starring alongside a young, elite defense. He is a pop-culture tour de force, turning the dab into the year’s copycat dance sensation. Some dab to be like him. Others dab to mock him. It doesn’t really matter. After amassing 18,263 passing yards, 3,207 rushing yards and 160 touchdowns in his first five pro seasons, Newton is closer to Canton, Ohio, than to the disgrace that some predicted when he arrived in the NFL.
[Patriots LB Fleming saves woman from burning car][Patriots LB Fleming saves woman from burning car]
You can dislike his flamboyance, but you must respect his ability and impact on winning. Considering his continued development and maturation from physical specimen to savvy quarterback, it is no longer fashionable to suggest breathlessly, ignorantly, that Newton is heavy on brawn and light on brains. It is also no longer fashionable to think there is no place for a brash quarterback in this prim league.You can dislike his flamboyance, but you must respect his ability and impact on winning. Considering his continued development and maturation from physical specimen to savvy quarterback, it is no longer fashionable to suggest breathlessly, ignorantly, that Newton is heavy on brawn and light on brains. It is also no longer fashionable to think there is no place for a brash quarterback in this prim league.
Newton, the iconoclastic quarterback, is winning.Newton, the iconoclastic quarterback, is winning.
The Panthers have won 16 of their 17 games and they have been the NFL’s best team over the past 19 weeks, but that’s not the only place Newton is thriving. He is defeating the misconception that his way can’t bring honor to the sport.The Panthers have won 16 of their 17 games and they have been the NFL’s best team over the past 19 weeks, but that’s not the only place Newton is thriving. He is defeating the misconception that his way can’t bring honor to the sport.
“He understands the whole spectrum of being a quarterback,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who has mentored Newton the past five years. “He understands the reality of pro football now. When he first came into the league, he had gone undefeated at Auburn, won big at junior college, won big at Florida before transferring. He didn’t know a lot about losing, and that was the toughest thing for him to deal with. People saw the towel over his head, slumping on the bench. He just didn’t look like a quarterback.”“He understands the whole spectrum of being a quarterback,” said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who has mentored Newton the past five years. “He understands the reality of pro football now. When he first came into the league, he had gone undefeated at Auburn, won big at junior college, won big at Florida before transferring. He didn’t know a lot about losing, and that was the toughest thing for him to deal with. People saw the towel over his head, slumping on the bench. He just didn’t look like a quarterback.”
Like many purists, Moon doesn’t like Newton’s in-game celebrations. He doesn’t like the constant gestures after first downs. He doesn’t like it when Newton pretends to be Clark Kent, turning into Superman. He doesn’t like the dabbing, and he despises orchestrated celebrations such as the giant group photo the Panthers took during a victory over Atlanta in December. But Moon sees the substance behind the style, and he hopes Newton will be appreciated for it despite his antics. Like many purists, Moon doesn’t like Newton’s in-game celebrations. He doesn’t like the constant gestures after first downs.
He doesn’t like it when Newton pretends to be Clark Kent, turning into Superman. He doesn’t like the dabbing and he despises orchestrated celebrations such as the giant group photo the Panthers took during a victory over Atlanta in December.
But Moon sees the substance behind the style, and he hopes Newton will be appreciated for it despite his antics.
“Hopefully, all the flamboyance will go away as he matures a little bit more,” Moon said. “It doesn’t have to totally go away, but you don’t need to make a gesture after every first down. As a quarterback, you receive so much attention, so much adulation and so much credit. Let the other guys get more spotlight. Don’t put more on you. I would never tell him to stop doing it because that’s who he is. But I just hope he’ll relax that over the years. He’ll be perceived better.“Hopefully, all the flamboyance will go away as he matures a little bit more,” Moon said. “It doesn’t have to totally go away, but you don’t need to make a gesture after every first down. As a quarterback, you receive so much attention, so much adulation and so much credit. Let the other guys get more spotlight. Don’t put more on you. I would never tell him to stop doing it because that’s who he is. But I just hope he’ll relax that over the years. He’ll be perceived better.
“I’ve gotten a chance to know him well. He’s a really good kid. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t party too much. He doesn’t do anything wrong, really. But the celebrating ticks people off. And it makes them want to use the past — the trouble at Florida, the recruiting scandal at Auburn – against him.” “I’ve gotten a chance to know him well. He’s a really good kid. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t party too much. He doesn’t do anything wrong, really. But the celebrating ticks people off. And it makes them want to use the past — the trouble at Florida, the recruiting scandal at Auburn — against him.”
As an African-American quarterback who wasn’t accepted initially and had to go through the Canadian Football League en route to the NFL, Moon appreciates that Newton can be himself in today’s game. For a quarterback, he is a different dude. If Newton were an NBA star, few would care about his swagger.As an African-American quarterback who wasn’t accepted initially and had to go through the Canadian Football League en route to the NFL, Moon appreciates that Newton can be himself in today’s game. For a quarterback, he is a different dude. If Newton were an NBA star, few would care about his swagger.
But Newton plays the most scrutinized position in sports. The standards are strict. There’s a history of presidential public behavior and there’s still limited racial diversity, let alone diversity of manner. Newton dabs all over tradition.But Newton plays the most scrutinized position in sports. The standards are strict. There’s a history of presidential public behavior and there’s still limited racial diversity, let alone diversity of manner. Newton dabs all over tradition.
“I’ve said since Day 1 that I’m really not caring about what people think,” Newton said in November after a 44-16 victory over Washington.“I’ve said since Day 1 that I’m really not caring about what people think,” Newton said in November after a 44-16 victory over Washington.
Newton came to the NFL in 2011 after leading Auburn to a national title in a controversy-filled season, and from the beginning, he was a star. He became the first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards. This season, he accounted for 45 touchdowns and became the first quarterback to throw for at least 30 touchdowns and rush for at least 10. Newton came to the NFL in 2011 after leading Auburn to a national title in a controversy-filled season, and from the beginning, he was a star.
But those numbers don’t tell the story of a quarterback who specializes in doing whatever it takes to win. Sometimes, that means playing mistake-free football and letting the defense thrive. Sometimes, that means taking over in the fourth quarter. Sometimes, that means being the most unique dual threat in football, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound bull who runs between the tackles, bounces off would-be tacklers and throws deep passes with great accuracy. He became the first rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards. This season, he accounted for 45 touchdowns and became the first quarterback to throw for at least 30 touchdowns and rush for at least 10.
But those numbers don’t tell the story of a quarterback who specializes in doing whatever it takes to win.
Sometimes, that means playing mistake-free football and letting the defense thrive. Sometimes, that means taking over in the fourth quarter. Sometimes, that means being the most unique dual threat in football, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound bull who runs between the tackles, bounces off would-be tacklers and throws deep passes with great accuracy.
Through five seasons, Newton has shouldered more responsibility to carry the offense than any of his peers. Seattle is just now putting that burden on Russell Wilson. Andrew Luck has had a full plate, but he has done it with better receiving weapons than Newton.Through five seasons, Newton has shouldered more responsibility to carry the offense than any of his peers. Seattle is just now putting that burden on Russell Wilson. Andrew Luck has had a full plate, but he has done it with better receiving weapons than Newton.
Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen is Newton’s favorite target. But among pure wide receivers, Ted Ginn Jr., with 44 receptions, is his lead pass-catcher. Nevertheless, Newton has had an MVP season and commanded an offense that averaged 31.2 points. Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen is Newton’s favorite target. But among pure wide receivers, Ted Ginn Jr., with 44 receptions, is his lead pass-catcher.
Nevertheless, Newton has had an MVP season and commanded an offense that averaged 31.2 points.
“I’m proud of how much he’s grown as a quarterback,” Moon said. “He can operate from the pocket now. He has all the skills.”“I’m proud of how much he’s grown as a quarterback,” Moon said. “He can operate from the pocket now. He has all the skills.”
Along the way, Newton has danced. He is setting himself up for ridicule, and if he loses, he’ll have to handle it with class. But right now, he looks like a young man having more fun than anyone in sports, except maybe the Golden State Warriors.Along the way, Newton has danced. He is setting himself up for ridicule, and if he loses, he’ll have to handle it with class. But right now, he looks like a young man having more fun than anyone in sports, except maybe the Golden State Warriors.
The symbolism of this weekend is clear: While Brady and Manning play under twilight, Newton rises in the background. Soon, the NFL will belong to the quarterback trio of Newton, Wilson and Luck.The symbolism of this weekend is clear: While Brady and Manning play under twilight, Newton rises in the background. Soon, the NFL will belong to the quarterback trio of Newton, Wilson and Luck.
If you think it’s a bad thing that Newton is on center stage, it doesn’t really matter. It’s happening. The iconoclastic quarterback is here to stay.If you think it’s a bad thing that Newton is on center stage, it doesn’t really matter. It’s happening. The iconoclastic quarterback is here to stay.