- Messages
- 5,432
- Reaction score
- 0
Galloway: Cam could be the man for the Cowboys
Posted Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011
By Randy Galloway
rgalloway@star-telegram.com
Let me get this out of the way early, therefore allowing the abuse obviously headed in this direction to build immediate momentum, and then crescendo in late April.
The NFL Draft is more than three long months away. The Dallas Cowboys pick ninth in the first round.
Here in mid-January, I'm already insisting that when Jerry Jones gives Roger Goodell the name to call, it be:
Cam Newton.
There, I said it. Even my friends have already screamed, "Idiot." But, OK, that's not anything unusual for my friends.
Other catty comments from good pals:
"If you are actually writing that, Cam needs to also steal your computer."
"When Jerry has to pay the kickback cash to Cecil, does it count against the salary cap?"
"Yeah, sure, with all their other desperate needs, it makes perfect sense to draft a quarterback not ready to play when you already have a quarterback."
"Did you not watch the game against Oregon's bad defense? Pretty ordinary-looking quarterback, don't you think?"
Answering that last part:
From the standpoint of his NFL future, Newton was impressive -- to me -- in the bogus national title game because he had to play quarterback, not superstar, once he was taken out of his usual role as the most dynamic player in all of college football.
The Duckies had a great defensive plan. They took away Cam's feet, saying if Cam's going to beat us, it will be with his arm.
Yes, he overthrew a wide-open receiver headed for a touchdown. Yes, he threw a pick. Yes, he underthrew a receiver in the end zone on fourth down. Yes, he fumbled late and that one could have gotten his team beat.
But he managed the game well. Didn't panic. He let the game come to him. He played quarterback based on what the defense was allowing. And the concentration of defense on him also allowed the War Eagles' running game to greatly prosper.
This kid showed he's a quarterback first, not a runner first. His passing accuracy, not so great against Oregon, pleasantly surprised everyone this season. Mel Kiper, the draft guru, calls that accuracy still "underrated."
But the entire package -- arm and feet -- that's what takes Newton far beyond where Vince Young was when coming out of Texas.
Why am I making Young comparisons? Because there are already those comparisons from an NFL point of view, and before anyone else reminds me, my comment on Vince four years ago as a top NFL draft pick was "don't know what he will be, but I'm sure for finding out."
I loved Vince's chances at the next level.
Now we know. If nothing else, Young as an NFL quarterback is soft in the head, still thinks he's a star when he's not even close, and his NFL work ethic has never been where it should be. Vince is also out of a job and out of a team at the moment.
Now there's Newton. By NFL standards, he's a more advanced QB than Young. With Tony Romo already in place, Newton's advantage here would be he could sit for a while. Sit, watch and learn for two years, maybe three.
In hindsight, the worst thing that happened to Young is he was rushed into action as a rookie, debuting, in fact, against the Cowboys one Sunday in Nashville.
His rookie season was also impressive. Unfortunately, it was fool's gold. Slowly but surely, the erosion happened. His game never advanced. Many blame the lack of a work ethic combined with big head-itis.
By all accounts, Newton works his butt off in football study sessions, is a total team guy, and is adored by his Auburn teammates and coaches.
But, yes, quarterback is the one position in the NFL where solid citizen is an absolute must. So does a kid who gets kicked out of one school after buying a stolen computer and allegations of academic cheating, and then is linked to a huge pay-me scandal just two years later at another school, qualify as a solid citizen?
And no, I don't believe that NCAA crap of a ruling that Cam never knew his daddy, Cecil, was pimping him to the highest bidder.
By the time the investigation in that case is finally finished, Newton's name could well be tarnished again when the No. 1 hardware is removed -- see Reggie Bush and USC -- from the grasp of War Eagle World.
When it comes to solid citizen credentials, those who deal with Newton obviously have to concede Cam's track record is a tad spotty, but they swear that's not this kid. Not now.
Cam is a junior who announced Thursday he would enter the draft. There was no question he was, let us say, "encouraged," to leave college football immediately because of the pay-me cloud.
At Auburn, as the NFL people conduct a thorough investigation -- and it will be very thorough -- what they will hear repeatedly on Newton is "first-class citizen in all areas, even in attending class." (I know, it's hard to believe SEC players actually attend class. Well, except at Vandy.)
Among NFL voices, I hear more concerns about attitude and such surrounding Ryan Mallett (the Arkansas quarterback who has declared for the draft) than I do about Newton. Mallett, by the way, would be wise to prepare himself well for some harsh scouting combine interviews that are surely coming.
But keep an open mind on Newton to the Cowboys in the draft. Think Aaron Rodgers.
Brett Favre was firmly entrenched in Green Bay when the Pack took Rodgers. He sat for three years. Look at him now. Look at Favre now, and I don't mean his text photos.
Romo will be 31 in April. Favre was like in his late 40s, early 50s (actually, he was 35) when Green Bay drafted Rodgers.
We all know about the other Cow needs in April, but the Pack also had many needs when Rodgers fell their first-round way in the draft.
I'm just saying Newton is the best player in college football, he's a quarterback with an NFL skill set, and he's a playmaker deluxe.
In the end, you win with playmakers.
Only an idiot would say the Cowboys should draft Cam?
Count me in.
Posted Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011
By Randy Galloway
rgalloway@star-telegram.com
Let me get this out of the way early, therefore allowing the abuse obviously headed in this direction to build immediate momentum, and then crescendo in late April.
The NFL Draft is more than three long months away. The Dallas Cowboys pick ninth in the first round.
Here in mid-January, I'm already insisting that when Jerry Jones gives Roger Goodell the name to call, it be:
Cam Newton.
There, I said it. Even my friends have already screamed, "Idiot." But, OK, that's not anything unusual for my friends.
Other catty comments from good pals:
"If you are actually writing that, Cam needs to also steal your computer."
"When Jerry has to pay the kickback cash to Cecil, does it count against the salary cap?"
"Yeah, sure, with all their other desperate needs, it makes perfect sense to draft a quarterback not ready to play when you already have a quarterback."
"Did you not watch the game against Oregon's bad defense? Pretty ordinary-looking quarterback, don't you think?"
Answering that last part:
From the standpoint of his NFL future, Newton was impressive -- to me -- in the bogus national title game because he had to play quarterback, not superstar, once he was taken out of his usual role as the most dynamic player in all of college football.
The Duckies had a great defensive plan. They took away Cam's feet, saying if Cam's going to beat us, it will be with his arm.
Yes, he overthrew a wide-open receiver headed for a touchdown. Yes, he threw a pick. Yes, he underthrew a receiver in the end zone on fourth down. Yes, he fumbled late and that one could have gotten his team beat.
But he managed the game well. Didn't panic. He let the game come to him. He played quarterback based on what the defense was allowing. And the concentration of defense on him also allowed the War Eagles' running game to greatly prosper.
This kid showed he's a quarterback first, not a runner first. His passing accuracy, not so great against Oregon, pleasantly surprised everyone this season. Mel Kiper, the draft guru, calls that accuracy still "underrated."
But the entire package -- arm and feet -- that's what takes Newton far beyond where Vince Young was when coming out of Texas.
Why am I making Young comparisons? Because there are already those comparisons from an NFL point of view, and before anyone else reminds me, my comment on Vince four years ago as a top NFL draft pick was "don't know what he will be, but I'm sure for finding out."
I loved Vince's chances at the next level.
Now we know. If nothing else, Young as an NFL quarterback is soft in the head, still thinks he's a star when he's not even close, and his NFL work ethic has never been where it should be. Vince is also out of a job and out of a team at the moment.
Now there's Newton. By NFL standards, he's a more advanced QB than Young. With Tony Romo already in place, Newton's advantage here would be he could sit for a while. Sit, watch and learn for two years, maybe three.
In hindsight, the worst thing that happened to Young is he was rushed into action as a rookie, debuting, in fact, against the Cowboys one Sunday in Nashville.
His rookie season was also impressive. Unfortunately, it was fool's gold. Slowly but surely, the erosion happened. His game never advanced. Many blame the lack of a work ethic combined with big head-itis.
By all accounts, Newton works his butt off in football study sessions, is a total team guy, and is adored by his Auburn teammates and coaches.
But, yes, quarterback is the one position in the NFL where solid citizen is an absolute must. So does a kid who gets kicked out of one school after buying a stolen computer and allegations of academic cheating, and then is linked to a huge pay-me scandal just two years later at another school, qualify as a solid citizen?
And no, I don't believe that NCAA crap of a ruling that Cam never knew his daddy, Cecil, was pimping him to the highest bidder.
By the time the investigation in that case is finally finished, Newton's name could well be tarnished again when the No. 1 hardware is removed -- see Reggie Bush and USC -- from the grasp of War Eagle World.
When it comes to solid citizen credentials, those who deal with Newton obviously have to concede Cam's track record is a tad spotty, but they swear that's not this kid. Not now.
Cam is a junior who announced Thursday he would enter the draft. There was no question he was, let us say, "encouraged," to leave college football immediately because of the pay-me cloud.
At Auburn, as the NFL people conduct a thorough investigation -- and it will be very thorough -- what they will hear repeatedly on Newton is "first-class citizen in all areas, even in attending class." (I know, it's hard to believe SEC players actually attend class. Well, except at Vandy.)
Among NFL voices, I hear more concerns about attitude and such surrounding Ryan Mallett (the Arkansas quarterback who has declared for the draft) than I do about Newton. Mallett, by the way, would be wise to prepare himself well for some harsh scouting combine interviews that are surely coming.
But keep an open mind on Newton to the Cowboys in the draft. Think Aaron Rodgers.
Brett Favre was firmly entrenched in Green Bay when the Pack took Rodgers. He sat for three years. Look at him now. Look at Favre now, and I don't mean his text photos.
Romo will be 31 in April. Favre was like in his late 40s, early 50s (actually, he was 35) when Green Bay drafted Rodgers.
We all know about the other Cow needs in April, but the Pack also had many needs when Rodgers fell their first-round way in the draft.
I'm just saying Newton is the best player in college football, he's a quarterback with an NFL skill set, and he's a playmaker deluxe.
In the end, you win with playmakers.
Only an idiot would say the Cowboys should draft Cam?
Count me in.
!!!
