Cam Newton Declares for the 2011 NFL Draft: A Sign of a New NFL Era?

We’ve been expecting it for months, but just a little a while ago, Auburn superstar quarterback Cameron Newton made it official—he’s going pro.

Cam Newton is a part of the 2011 NFL Draft, folks.

The 6'6'’ 250 lb. junior is still probably basking in the glory of a victory in this year’s national championship game over Oregon and a Heisman caliber season the likes of which we haven’t seen in quite some time.

After accomplishing the two biggest goals a college football player could possibly have, the next hurdle for Newton will involve proving to pro scouts that he has the skills and the ability to make a successful transition to the pro game.

After dealing with a collegiate career filled with scandal, that might not seem like such a difficult proposition for the Atlanta native.

After a premature exit from Urban Meyer’s Florida Gator program, Newton found himself back, swimming in SEC waters after a one year stop at the JUCO ranks. It was at Auburn where the former four star recruit, who undoubtedly was loaded with limitless potential, finally made good on his tremendous promise.

In his first year as a starting quarterback (nobody seems to bring that tidbit up), Newton wowed Tiger fans, quieted critics and blew by anyone in his way en route to an undefeated season and a Heisman Trophy.

The 2010 college football season can be summed up in two words: Cam Newton.

Unfortunately for Newton, half as many people probably know him for the wrong reasons as the ones who know him for the right.

Newton’s alleged pay-for-play scandal dominated the college football landscape for weeks and left many people in a precarious situation.

In the face of it all, Newton continually prevailed.

Down in Tuscaloosa, with the season in the balance, we saw what the real Cam Newton had to offer. Hurting with a back injury in the second half of the National Championship, Newton got it done.

Now the question becomes, can Newton have the same type of impact in the NFL?

Any time you have a quarterback who can run a little bit, you’re going to have the naysayers springing up from the woodwork to tell you he can’t succeed in the NFL. Because how dare anyone think there’s more to quarterbacking than just the basic formula of a statuesque, pocket passer with conventional mechanics and footwork.

It’s not like we’re seeing more and more elite dual threat quarterbacks such as Newton and other exceptional athletes like Terrelle Pryor dominate the college game year after year.

Tim Tebow did it for three years, and then we killed him. Just like we killed Vince Young and every other mobile quarterback who didn’t fit into the formula.

If you think Cam Newton will be able to escape that same kind of venom, you’re delirious.

People are afraid of change.

An NFL dominated by athletic, mobile quarterbacks? Get out of here.

We want 10 more years of Derek Anderson, Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Matt Schaub, dammit.

Notice how quick everyone is to move these guys to other positions? Tebow should be a tight end, so should Newton. Pryor? Got to move him out to wide receiver.

The NFL has to make room for Chad Henne. No mobile quarterbacks allowed up there. Forget about the fact that the most important down in football is third down and mobile quarterbacks like Newton can alter games with their ability to convert when needed. Forget the fact that they have to be game-planned and schemed for with a completely different and unconventional approach.

Change will come one day though. The stones are shifting already.

Mike Vick has the car running, now he just needs one of these guys like Newton or Pryor to sit down and put their foot on the pedal.

One day, guys like Cam Newton will be the norm in the NFL, not the outcast.

The only thing that remains to be seen is whether Newton will have the proper chance to start the trend or not.

The decision by Andrew Luck to return to Stanford has flung the door wide open on this draft and if we had to have an immediate candidate to be the first overall quarterback off the board, I can’t come up with any other name more deserving than Newton. Sorry, Blaine Gabbert bandwagon jumpers!

Does Newton need a lot of work? Of course. But the intangibles, the leadership trait, the "it" factor—it’s all there.

Newton has a chance to be a special player at the next level, all he needs is the proper patience and opportunity.

Don’t fear nor downgrade Newton just because he goes against the tradition a bit. The NFL needs to continue evolving and that evolution should have a place for football’s top stars.