There are few in the media more unlikable than Skip Bayless, so when the ESPN troll gets things wrong, it brings great joy to point it out.
On the day of the Super Bowl, when former No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Newton is hoping to lead his team to the ring after losing only one game during the season, it’s quite entertaining to remind you just how wrong Bayless was on Cam Newton.
During a debate with Stephen A. Smith several years ago, Bayless, once the torch carrier for Tim Tebow, said Tebow was more accurate than Cam would ever be. Yup, that happened.
Was just reminded that Skip Bayless said, "Tebow is a much more accurate thrower of the football than Cam (Newton) will ever be."
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) August 14, 2012
Then you remember how Josh Freeman led the Bucs to a 10-6 record in 2010? Well in 2011, Bayless was so into Freeman he said he’d rather have the former Bucs QB than Cam.
For next 10 yrs, give me Josh Freeman over Cam. More accurate. Clutch gene. 25 TDs, 6 INTs last yr. Really like Cam. Love Josh in big games
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 16, 2011
Newton was the league MVP this year. Freeman did not play in 2014 and was signed off the street to play one game for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2015 season.
But Skip is not alone. CBS’ Pete Prisco said he would take Christian Ponder over Cam Newton before the draft. Ponder, like Freeman, didn’t have an NFL team most of the season.
After breaking down Christian Ponder and Cam Newton on tape, I would take Ponder over Newton. That's just me. '
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 31, 2011
It’s easy to laugh at all these people in hindsight. After all, prior to the draft I was wrong about Cam too. Here’s what I said:
“I’ve felt all along that he would only be an average NFL quarterback. Maybe he’ll have some spectacular moments here and there and some ugly moments, but I don’t think he’ll be the special player he was in college in the NFL.”
Newton had a great rookie season and won the MVP this year. He certainly has improved tremendously and exceeded the expectation of most people, but it’s easy to forget just how controversial his draft stock was years ago. It’s fun to look at what critics said about him at the time and laugh, especially Bayless. When you take extreme positions the way Bayless does, you’re not just wrong when you’re wrong — your fantastically wrong.
