Brett Favre: 10 Reasons Cam Newton Would Be Lucky To Have Favre As a Mentor

If you are Cam Newton, it's important to make all the right moves because you have so much working against you. Scouts question your throwing motion. Coaches are scared off by the spread offense you played in at Auburn. General managers question your ethics(or at least your fathers ethics) and the only players that compare to you in the NFL right now are Michael Vick(prison) and Vince Young(head case).

So if you are concerned about not only being drafted, but also being successful at the NFL level, then you'd be best off getting yourself a mentor. The perfect guy for the job is Brett Favre. It seems funny to think that a man who has been described as almost everything but a mentor would be the perfect guy for the job, but in truth, he might be just what Cam needs.  

10. Favre Is Southern Too

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1990: Quarterback Brett Favre of the South Mississippi Golden Eagles looks on during a game. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport

It doesn't hurt to have your mentor be from the same general area as you. Cam Newton grew up in Fulton County, Georgia. Brett Favre grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi. They both have a small-town feel to them and both seem to have remained rooted in that small town mentality.

Having a guy like that to relate to could be helpful.

9. He Had College Adversity Too

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GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Cameron Newton of the Florida Gators breaks a tackle during a game against the FAU Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 17, 2007 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Cam isn't a stranger to having trouble in college. He was supposed to be the heir apparent to Tim Tebow, but allegations of theft had him transfer to a junior college and then back to Auburn. It's the kind of adversity that builds character and that's something that Brett would know about.

As a freshman at Southern Miss, Favre was asked to play defensive back, to which he declined. He was then seventh string on the depth chart, but it wasn't until the third game in the freshman season that he came in midway through and led the Golden Eagles to a come from behind win against Tulane.  

8. He's A Leader On The Field

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2 Sep 1989: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles looks to pass from the pocket during the Golden Eagles 30-26 victory over the Florida State Seminoles at Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Mandatory Credit: Allen S

Both players not only got to play against many teams from the Southeastern United States, but they both led career-defining comebacks against Alabama.

Favre, only six weeks removed from an auto accident that almost killed him, was able to come in and lead his Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to a come from behind win.

Cam Newton, only days after being cleared to play by the NCAA amid allegations of taking money from Auburn, led Auburn to victory against Alabama after being down 24-0.

Cam, just like Favre, became a leader in college. It would be worth it for Cam to learn about being a leader at the next level, too.  

7. He Knows How To Wait

The reality for Cam is that wherever he goes, he's likely to have to sit before he plays. Coming from the spread offense to a pro-style offense could take some getting adjusted to, so Cam will have to learn patience, something that a star often has trouble learning.

Favre also had to sit in the pros. Even after being drafted by the Falcons, he didn't play until he was traded to the Packers and Don Majkowski was benched. Favre knows what it's like to have to wait your turn. He can teach Cam about waiting.

6. He Knows How To Play Through Pain

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings is attended to after being sacked by the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Now, you can't teach a guy to be tough. There is no way that's possible. But Favre certainly knows how to play through pain. Cam, being a mobile quarterback and never having been hit by NFL defenses, is going to learn about pain very quickly.

What Favre can't teach about toughness, he can make up for by educating Cam on the ways to protect himself and how he compensated for his incredible amount of injuries. Anyone can play through pain, but Favre learned all the tricks he needed to know about playing well through injury. That's the kind of thing he can bring to the table with Cam.   

5. He Knows How To Handle The Doubters

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11 Nov 1990: Quarterback Don Majkowski of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport

It's true that there are not a lot of people who are high on Cam's ability as a pro. Mel Kiper of ESPN has him at 13 on his big board, but that's based on the physical skills that he brings to the table. There are plenty who doubt that he has the throwing motion or the presence of mind to stay in the pocket and be a pocket passer QB. There are also those that don't believe he will pick up the nuances of a pro-style offense.

Brett knows about doubters as well, both at the end of his career and in the beginning. After a win in 1992 against the Bears, Bernie Lincicome wrote that Favre wouldn't be, “any more of a long-range savior than Don Majkowski was before him.” Cam could learn something from Brett about proving the doubters wrong.  

4. He Knows How To Handle The Media

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings talks at a post game press conference after a 13-20 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Whether Cam succeeds or fails, there is going to be pretty intense media scrutiny. Reporters will want to dissect why he can't grasp the system he's in, or why he's adapted so well. No matter what the situation is, Cam will have to be ready to handle the media, especially in the age of the 24-hour news cycle.

Favre has been amazing at manipulating and playing the media during his career. There are very few people who seem to hammer Favre for anything, especially big name guys like SI's Peter King. Favre is one of the best at using the media to get what he wants and Cam should be taking notes.  

3. He Knows How To Handle Controversy

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 16: NFL athlete Brett Favre and wife Deanna Favre attend the 2008 ESPY Awards held at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. The 2008 ESPYs will air on Sunday, July 20 at 9PM ET on ESPN. (Photo by Al

Whether Cam was guilty of taking money or not, one thing seems certain: this is not going away. With a Heisman Trophy in his possession and the stink of scandal floating around a guy like Reggie Bush, everyone is waiting for the NCAA investigation to resume.

Favre has spent the last five years of his career in the midst of one controversy or another. Whether it's the way he left Green Bay, the way the left New York or the way he choose to text others, Favre has been through it all. He could teach Cam a thing or two.

2. He Knows Failure

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 24: Brett Favre #4 (C) and Tavaris Jackson #7 of the Minnesota Vikings look on dejected from the bench late in the game against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Championship Game at the Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 i

Success is no easy feat to deal with, but failure can be worse. Cam is going to fail in the NFL because everyone does. He doesn't know much about what that is like. He led his junior college and Auburn to National Championships. When he throws a game winning pick, gets bounced from the playoffs or can't make it on to the field because he's played poorly, someone will have to teach him how to deal with adversity.

Favre has known his fair share of failure. From costly interceptions in the last two NFC title games, to six interceptions against the Rams back in the day, Favre has had as many failures as he has successes. Yet, he has seemed unaffected by them all. That's the thing Cam will have to learn to make it in the NFL.  

1. Favre Is Ready

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DETROIT - DECEMBER 13: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings watches the action during the game against the New York Giants at Ford Field on December 13, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Giants defeated the Vikings 21-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/G

The obvious question to Brett Favre tutoring Cam would be, “why?” After all, this is the same Brett Favre that wouldn't lift a finger to bring Aaron Rodgers along. However, that was at a time in Brett's life where he was still a few years away from retiring. Now, there is no competition. The likelihood is that Favre is done.

He's ready to be open to teaching someone who has their whole career ahead of them and Cam is that kid. It might be too early to say, but this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.