Cam Newton’s character has come into question on numerous occasions over the past six months. The reason the Auburn star has been so scrutinized is because he played well last season and drew attention from the media, fans, and scouts. Newton became a national champion and Heisman Trophy winner, and emerged as a potential #1 overall draft pick. Along the way, he became the center of the biggest scandal in college football.
During the middle of the season, allegations of academic cheating while Newton was at Florida were revealed. He then went third-person in an interview prompting us to say he needed to show humility. He topped it off by calling himself an entertainer and icon. Needless to say, Cam Newton has become quite the controversial character.
As mentioned above, we’ve criticized Cam Newton a good amount, but nothing states the concerns as bluntly as Nolan Nawrocki did in his draft profile of Newton in Pro Football Weekly’s Draft Preview. Here’s what Tom Curran wrote about it for Comcast New England:
Nawrocki bludgeons Newton when he starts talking about his personality.
“Very disingenuous — has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup,” writes Nawrocki.
But Nawrocki was just warming up.
He continued, “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.”
Some people will look at that as unfair, but it’s one person’s opinion. Some teams may get too wrapped up in Newton’s collegiate heroics and take him first overall, but it wouldn’t come without some warning like those above. Imagine if the same were said about Ryan Leaf before the Chargers drafted him. Maybe they would have had a better sense of what they were in for. Personally, I think Nawrocki is just saying things most people would be too afraid to but are warranted. The question is whether you believe all that is accurate, and if so, whether or not you think it will inhibit his ability to be a successful quarterback.
