The NFL Draft process is one of endless routine. So when a player breaks out of that routine, he’s going to get criticized.
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton’s decision to hold a media-only workout before the NFL Scouting Combine is an odd one. NFL scouts are not allowed by rule to attend any event other than at the Combine or the player’s school or hometown.
Newton will work out in Del Mar, California. The purpose is essentially to show media folks that he’s not JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, Vince Young, or any other quarterback that didn’t have the reputation as a hard worker.
One executive told Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com/CBSSports.com that it was nothing more than a “publicity stunt.” Another scout wondered about the entire approach.
“The Newtons would be best to realize they aren’t in college anymore. Regardless of how good he looks for [the media], there isn’t going to be a bidding war for him,” the scout told Rang. “We’re not recruiting him. They could wind up turning more people against them than for them with this [workout].”
We suspect the workout won’t really make a difference one way or another. It’s not going to help Newton’s chances of going high in the draft. But if Newton performs well in the workouts attended by NFL personnel, it shouldn’t hurt him either.
Talent always wins out on draft day.
Cecil Newton is going to destroy his son’s career before he even has one. Stuff like this is a P.R. nightmare and is probably making most fans and teams that do not play in Oakland despise Cam, but he is an adult and needs to put his foot down and tell Dad to back off.
Aren’t you supposed to be showing off for the scouts?
Yes and No. Yes it’s clearly a publicity stunt. No, there are no doubts about Cam’s talent or athletic ability.
What the event will not answer is the questions all prospective suitors have:
Is this guy just looking for the biggest possible payday?
Is he willing to do whatever it takes to be succesful at the next level?
Has he overcome the character and maturity issues that can get glossed over in college, but not professional football?
Can he be the requisite leader and team player an NFL starting QB has to be, or does he still think he can be a one man show?
Yeah, isn’t the point of the combine to impress your scouts? I think this is a great PR advantage for him. Dont like the guy, but its going to help him in the long run.
Wonder how Daddy paid for all this, HAMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
“Talent always wins out on draft day.”
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Is that why the term “bust” was invented?
Cecil Newton=2011 version of Marv Marinovich
Actually, Cam Newton reminds me more of Akili Smith than Leaf, Young or Russell. Like Smith, Newton has only one-year of experience as a starting college QB. That is a recipe for disaster, should someone draft him with the expectation of being a starter in 2011.
Something seems a little off about the cam and cecil newton situation. Regardless, some team is going to spend millions on him even though he has countless red flags.
“I’m not like those other guys… I work HARD at pretending to be a hard worker!”
Yeah, good luck with that.
Awww, Rosenthal is upset he didn’t get invited
The John Gruden QB camps are media work outs. Cam has just chosen another media outlet over ESPN. I agree his father is acting more like the Williams Sister’s father than Manning brother’s father. But this is no big deal as long as he shows he can play.
Talent always wins out on draft day.
===========================
Maybe.
But if I were running a team I would be very wary about bringing this guy into my organization.
He not only seems to create a circus around him wherever he goes and whatever he does, he seems to enjoy and encourage it.
Throw in his dad, the stolen laptop, and the academic cheating.
Not saying I wouldn’t draft him- but boy, would I do my homework first.
a publicity stunt? no way you don’t say?! and in other news the sky is blue
is there a cover charge? who’s paying for nothing!
Every workout attended by the media is a publicity stunt.
nobody will be worse than j russel.
He sounds like Bengal material to me……
Is this entire site just a copy and paste from rotoworld.com or ESPN?????
The reason why NFL scouts get it wrong with QBs more often than not is because they look at things that don’t matter, throwing motion, foot work, 40 times, etc and not stats that do matter Ws and Ls. NFL scouts are always interested in the how he looks and not did he win while looking like that or not, I dont care if your 6’6 or 6’0 can you win I dont care if you throw the ball side arm or under handed did he win while doing it. I think the combine is the most overrated event in all of sports if you want to know how fast a kid is stop being lazy and pop in a dvd, if you want to know if a kid can catch or not pop in the dvd and check out one of his games what we see at the combine is how hard a kid has worked at all the drills he’ll be in not what he has done in a game.
Is his dad calling the shots here? Because no football person would ever think this is a good idea.
One look at Cam Newton’s twitter page will make the truth clear. Cam Newton is a conceded moron. He is not a leader of men and will be a bust in the NFL. If you don’t believe me take a look yourself, just google cam newton twitter.
Newton’s not even in the NFL yet and I already can’t stand him.
I wish him and his money grubbing whore of a father would go away already.
BTW, I’m calling bust.
This guy is Andre Ware part deux.
Daunte Culpepper II …
How’d that work out?
Cam Newton needs to show he can take charge and tell his father enough is enough. Cecil is going to drive his son into a wall with all his micro managing and “in his best interests” routine.
Lebron Newton
Isn’t Cam Newton the guy who was whored out by his father to college’s like some street walking hooker?
So what has changed?
The second coming of Todd Marinovich.
This has Cecils fingerprints all over it.
@huckersrock
That can’t possibly be his actual twitter account. If he is that big of a doucher he will never play in the NFL
But he’s a proven winner blah blah blah…
Danny Wuerfell was a winner, Gino Toretta was a winner, Akili/Alex/Troy Smith was a winner, JaMarcus was a winner. Come on.
This has more to do with getting endorsement deals & less to do with the draft, it’s pretty obvious.
Setting up a show still makes it a show, it’ll be things he is good at.
Ok what’s wrong with this kid trying to show he’s not lazy? I understand what he’s trying to do. I don’t see a problem with it. Keep doing what you’re doing Cam. Haters gonna hate and players gonna play.
If you want to judge the kids character (like the purpose of this appears to be) just check out his twitter account, I think it sums up him up pretty well…
Don King errr I mean Cecil Newtown is doing his best to make sure his kid drops down that draft board. Cecil never met a dollar he didn’t like.
i just hope the skins pass on him!
I think this is all to avoid the combine with its’ interviews and Wonderlic-wonder if they can get away with this too-another scam.
Twitter page says, “Not Cameron Newton”
This guy is a nightmare I wouldn’t touch him. Whoever drafts him won’t be offering him his second contract.
This is the Lebron “decision” effect, you will see more and more people do more things for media attention because that’s the era we live in. What Cam needs is to get Cecil out of his camp when it comes to football decisions.
I feel bad for this kid, I mean wont someone tell his father that he is NOT helping his son with all this mess.
NO?! , Ok I will. Mr. Newton BACK OFF. How hard was that.
This goes way beyond living through your children.
Thank GOD the Raiders dont have a first round selection (as it stands), so there isnt even a chance they end up with this clown…
We’ve already wasted too much time and $31 million on a dud just like this… this stunt proves nothing more than a strong desire to get paid! This should throw up a red flag for all teams….
Akili Smith likes the decision.
don’t forget to add in the fact that Newton’s agent is Bus Cook…
the same Bus who orchestrated all the Fav-ruh retirement shenanigans, the Cutler/McDaniels situation in DEN and the Steve McNair getting locked-out of Titans facility fiasco…
so yeah, add that to Cecil Newton and that’s just more drama than most teams want to deal with, regardless of the kid’s potential…
I hear that the Vegas line is even money for Papa Newton to pass the collection plate at this little gathering. Quite possibly the foulest smelling college player to come along in a considerable amount of time. How this guy wasn’t DQ’d by the NCAA is beyond comprehension. The Newton family is so sleazy, they make oil companies appear upstanding and responsible.
Welcome to the new age of football! It is apparent that the media has a BIG influence on the minds of most of our culture so why the surprise that someone is using it in football?
I do believe that Cam will be a success in the NFL barring injury based on the facts that his physical skills translate well to NFL style of play. I also believe that at some point he will understand that he is a grown man and won’t allow his father to continue creating bad circumstances for him to deal with. I am all for the success of anyone who is trying to make something of themselves…..GOOD LUCK CAM!
On the other hand, whichever team drafts him gets an entire family, an entourage, and an enormous amount of baggage, all for the same price as a single player.
What’s with all this Cecil and Cam smear campaign? Are the folks at ESPN upset cause Cecil didn’t break his neck to call into the “gods’ of sports to tell his side of the story like that Kenny Rogers guy, who ironcally is still under investigation by the NFLPA for passing himself off as a recruiter for the NFL.
I guess ESPN don’t have problems with shady folks, with integrity issues pushing a story. As long as they can spin it to fit their own agenda of tearing down a young man and his father, it’s fine with them.
I wonder what would have happened to Ben Rothleisburger’s football career had ESPN scrutinized his intentions the night when followed the drunk young lady into the bathroom like they did Cecil and Cam’s? But, I guess that level of scrutiny and cynicm is reserved for special folks.
I’m glad to see our so called serious sport media is take journalistic lessons from TMZ..