I’m pretty sure this is miles-and-away the best Cam Newton article that has been written as of today. =)

I’m going to try to exercise a little self-control and not quote the whole article, but I can’t help but post a few excerpts:

Beyond the numbers, though, what has impressed Carolina’s coaches the most has been Newton’s ability to do what scouts said he couldn’t: accept the tough lessons of a rookie quarterback, learn and absorb the corrections and immediately apply them on the field. “Cam’s speed is what sets him apart, but it’s his mental speed,” says Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey. “It’s supposed to take a long time to pick this stuff up, but he always seems to be one step ahead of the game mentally.”

After throwing three picks against Atlanta in Week 6, Newton devoured more than 12 hours of film. He was sloppy with the weight transfer on his feet, which led to inaccurate throws. Plus, he wasn’t seeing fast enough when defenses would dial up an overload blitz and roll coverage over the top on the same side to bracket receiver Steve Smith. The next week, a more controlled Newton was 18-for-23 for 256 yards with two TDs (one passing, one rushing) and no turnovers in a 33-20 win over Washington. “The kid is a pretty Ferrari,” Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall said afterward. “He can run. He can throw. He’s got it all.”

It’s hard to fathom, but just five years removed from his backyard, it is Newton who now seems destined to be the player who completes the evolution of the multidimensional quarterback developed by Fran Tarkenton, Randall Cunningham, Steve Young and Vick. “Gone are the days of the drop-back quarterback who can only throw the ball,” says Newton. “You know the new iPhone? It’s faster, more powerful and smarter. It’s revolutionary. Why can’t the quarterback be like that? Why can’t you be a big, tall, fast, quick, strong, smart, mobile quarterback who’s unstoppable?”

Around midseason, with his frustrations about to blow, Newton’s cellphone rang. It was Ray Lewis, the Ravens’ future Hall of Fame linebacker. “Baby boy,” crackled the voice on the other end of the line, “whatcha so mad about? Listen here, you ain’t going through nothing that anybody that is great hasn’t been through.”

A defiant Newton swallowed hard, stood up straight and tried to explain himselfand Lewis filled his ear with laughter. “Four years,” Lewis shouted. It took him four years to get Baltimore to .500. (In Year 5, the Ravens won the Super Bowl.) “This isn’t who you are,” Lewis said. “Why ain’t you smiling? Get a damn smile on your face.” To a man, Newton’s teammates and coaches say they welcome his outspoken, unrelenting competitive fire. But if Ray Lewis calls out of the blue to say you’re too intense, maybe it’s time to chill a bit. “People are gonna respect the Panthers,” says Newton. “And I want what I do as a quarterback to be scary. I want people to be in fear. I want it, and I’m gonna get it. But I realize now it’s a process.”

Makes sense – he’s awesome.

Great stuff. Newton just oozes charisma.

AKA “The Dinosaur”; AKA “Ace Boogie”; AKA “Superman”; AKA “Swag Man”; AKA…

So glad the NBA (- where killing time during the NFL offseason happens™) finally got their shit together to at least tide me over until late spring.

“I blame JaMarcus Russell and to some degree Vince Young. If you have the opportunity to make that kind of money doing something you love to do, why would you screw it up? I’m trying to be a trailblazer. If Baylor’s Robert Griffin decides to come out, I want people to say ‘He can be the next Cam Newton’ instead of ’He’s gonna be the next JaMarcus Russell.’”

People are gonna respect the Panthers

Love it, love it, love it, LOVE IT. So damn happy this guy is a Carolina Panther!!!!

But if Ray Lewis calls out of the blue to say you’re too intense, maybe it’s time to chill a bit.

I only hope that Cam continues to improve and takes the Panthers to the playoffs next year.

This season Newton has delivered on everything for Carolina, including lunch.

Another thing not as talked about much is Cam’s durability. It is amazing out of all the running he does, all the hits he takes and all the moves and dives he does, he hasn’t missed a snap or game and was only held out of practice once because of a stomach bug, but yet guys like Vick and Bradford take shoe lace tackles and they are on IR the next week.. Cam is like Bruce Willis from ’ unbreakable’ he just can’t get hurt

Of hunger for success and pure talent. It’s a scary combination.

It’s a pretty good read. i just worry that Newton might be getting the big head. I know his talent is off the charts and he is a generational player, but sometimes he can come off as a braggart. I don’t mean to sound critical, but I just wish he would tone it down a little to avoid sounding like a blowhard. This is the second interview where he basically pounds his chest and shows just how much he loves himself.

I know he has a right to point at his preseason critics and say, ‘How ya like me now?’. He certainly has proven every one of them wrong. I love the fact that he’s made them all eat crow, feathers and all, but to do it so brashly is kinda unbecoming. I guess I’m just not used to Panthers players tooting their own horn as loudly as Cam has (minus Smith).

Still, tho, I’m a Cam fan 100% and I’m glad he’s a Panther. I think he’s definitely got the potential to revolutionize the NFL. His talent, intelligence, and abilities are really off the charts. I just don’t want him to get so full of himself that he stops trying to learn.

Much appreciation to Ray Lewis for reaching out to the young man and offering advice.

I get the feeling that the media is going to be all over this guy in the offseason. Tebowho?

Id say he is Now not NXT since for the second night in a row NBA teams have did his move and looked him on there way down the court.

Boom!

You were giving me all this crap and had so much to say about how I was gonna play, and now you wanna talk? No. Just sit back and watch the show, man.