Cam Newton: Calm Down, It Was Just One Sentence

First and foremost, I am not an Auburn fan. Not at all.  I am a South Carolina fan, and for that fact, the Auburn Tigers are right now my most hated team ever (SEC Championship Game nightmares for me). 

However, the ridicule over Cam Newton's silly comment about being an icon is overwhelming to the point of being outlandish. 

True, Cam Newton has to learn to let his game do the talking, but what he said wasn't the worst thing that I have ever heard.  As I sit here looking at the various articles involving his speech and tone of voice, I just wonder if people ever watched him play.

The comparisons to JaMarcus Russell are unjust, and that is putting it lightly.  Cam Newton is furiously fast, makes decent choices, has an ACCURATE rocket arm and is a leader who his teams obviously rally around (championships on the two college teams he started on reveal that). 

His coach at Auburn loved the guy.  Never once did he talk about Newton's inability to be coached.  He maintains that he is a good kid who has an extremely rare skill set (think Mike Vick 2.0) and has made some bad choices. 

As a teacher, I can tell you that 18 to 21-year-olds still have a ton of growing to do.  I know the argument can be made that they can join the military and so on and so forth, but that doesn't make you a man.  There is still time for Mr. Newton to grow. 

I can't help but think of this as a similar situation to Jadeveon Clowney coming to South Carolina with some controversy following a stupid comment. 

Look at it for what it is worth: a stupid comment from a young man who is embarking on the most exciting journey of his life. 

Do I think he has some issues?  Of course, but don't write the kid off just yet. 

He could shock us all.