The dazzling new Carolina QB can’t speak a lick, but it’s his play on the field that the Panthers are hoping will lead them to the promised land and away from all the doubters

SCOTT JACOBS

Cam Newton is a one year wonder.  A washout at Florida who re-emerged at a tiny po-dunk town in Texas, and then came out of nowhere to lead Auburn to a national championship that no one saw coming.  Somewhere in between he won a Heisman, made every highlight reel imaginable for 2010, became the focus of an embarrassing mid-season psuedo pathetic scandal and went from juco-transfer to franchise saving answer.

The latter is what Carolina is hoping.  The Panthers made Cam Cam the number one pick not because they think he can be a good NFL player.  They clearly think he can be a great one.  And boy o boy do they have their doubters.

Newton’s got his questions.  And his critics.  And he’ll have every chance to prove them wrong.  Because Carolina made a mega-gamble taking the high risk- high reward QB, one that could shape their future for the next 10-12 years or leave them right back at the podium in 2013 calling out for another QB to save them.

But it’s a pick the Panthers kinda sorta had to make.  Newton is fast, he’s dynamic, he’s won two national championships, and clearly he can handle a little bit of pressure (both on the field and off), but the reason Carolina had to pull the trigger is so simple in such a complex way: if they’re right, he could be the next Mike Vick/Donovan McNabb/Daunte Culpepper wrapped into one.  If he’s realizes his vast potential, can get down a complicated NFL playbook, and can learn to be a dropback passer with a penchance for taking off and running, Newton could be the next big thing.

Or he could flame out like Akili Smith, Tim Couch, and Cade McNown, the infamous trio of QB’s who do not look back at their NFL Draft experience and party like it’s 1999.  Those 3 were major busts, and the last notable time that this many QB’s were hauled away in a franchise QB moving truck.

This year it’s Newton, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, and Christian Ponder.  Ponder being the biggest shock, Locker the most dumbfounding (clearly the Titans were spellbounded by his size and arm).

So can Cam Fig Newton live up to the hype?  What’s his ceiling?  What’s his floor?  Is he the guy worth putting your chips on when a stud quarterback (ready for the NFL) in Andrew Luck is waiting in the wings for 2012?

Carolina wanted sexy.  Marcel Dareus isn’t sexy.  A.J. Green is style but if Clausen isn’t sizzle that goes nowhere.  So Carolina reached for the stars and pulled out a Newton. The guy they hope can help them recapture their glory years (which were way back in… 2008).  You may recall that Panthers team getting the number 2 seed in the NFC before being whacked by Jake Delhomme’s horrific NFC Divisional Game showing against Arizona where he was picked off 5 times.

The Panthers were tired of Jake’s act, so he went to Cleveland, where they got tired of him too.  In Carolina a host of guys from Matt Moore to Jimmy Clausen all the way to Brian St. Pierre and even Tony Pike tried to seize what was a wide open QB race.  None of them did anything.  Clausen was exposed to reality and looked lost, Moore looked overwhelmed, and those others guys well, they didn’t do much either.

So you bring in a new coach in Ron Rivera and a new franchise QB for the new regime to play with.  Well, Newton’s your toy.  He’s fast and shiny, and has hardly any miles on him at all, but looks can be deceiving.

Trophies can be deceptive.  All that winning and success could be from ‘the system’ and the level.

Or maybe Newton’s that good.  That’s what Carolina’s hoping.  That’s why they made him the top overall pick.  That’s what they’re going to sell to their players, their coaches, and all their fans.  Hop on board, Cam’s here.

The ride should be interesting.  The result?  Time will tell.

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