Tag: cam newton scouting report

Panthers’ GM defends Cam Newton after scathing PFW scouting report

Auburn University quarterback and winner of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, Cam Newton, attends a team practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 5, 2011. Auburn University will play the University of Oregon in the 2011 NCAA BCS National Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL PROFILE)

While appearing on CBS Radio in Charlotte on Friday, Carolina GM Marty Hurney defended future Panther Cam Newton against Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki, who had not-so-nice things to say about the 2010 Heisman winner in his annual scouting report.

“I don’t pay much attention,” said Hurney. “(Nolan Nawrocki) has never met Cam Newton. So who’s he talked to? He says he’s talking to decision makers. We have the No. 1 pick. He hasn’t talked to me.”

That’s a fair point by Hurney, although in Nawrocki’s defense he probably can’t get access to the Panthers’ GM either. Hurney did note that Nawrocki did his job, which is “selling books.”

I was half-kidding about the “future Panther Cam Newton” remark, but it is interesting to see Hurney defend a player that many people will be the Panthers pick at No. 1. Not that that means they will draft him, but I only imagine that the Newton-to-Carolina sentiment will grow following Hurney’s comments. (Even if he was just answering a question honestly and wasn’t intending to give a hint as to whom he’ll take with the first pick at the end of the month.)

PFW: Newton “has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement”

Auburn University quarterback Cam Newton speaks with the media in New York in this December 11, 2010 file photo. Newton declared himself eligible for the 2011 NFL draft on Thursday. The Heisman trophy winner, who led the Tigers to a perfect 14-0 season capped by 22-19 victory over the Oregon Ducks in U.S. college football’s championship game on Monday, said on the Auburn website that he will forgo his senior year and pursue a professional career. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL HEADSHOT)

Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki wrote a rather scathing review of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton for the publication’s annual draft magazine.

Under “Negatives,” Nawrocki wrote that Newton is “very disingenuous – has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted” and has a “selfish, me-first makeup.” But he didn’t stop there.

“Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law — does not command respect from teammates and will always struggle to win a locker room . . . Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness — is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable.”

Wow, tell us how you really feel, Nolan. I guess he didn’t think that “has questionable character” quite summed up how he felt about Newton.

Pro Football Weekly is a well-respected publication and Nawrocki makes his living from giving his opinion, which is all he did here. Obviously somewhere along the line he thought Newton was being an immature kid with a sense of entitlement and Narworki decided to print what he saw/felt.

That said, could he have made it any more personal? It sounds like Nawrocki has a vendetta against Newton and that’s only going to shed negative connotations on PWF in some people’s eyes. You don’t talk about a prospect’s “fake smile” without sounding like a scorned lover and I wonder what kind of backlash Nawrocki is experiencing after writing the report.