Cam Newton’s Media-Only Workout Inching Closer
Today marks the end of a journey, and the beginning of another. At 6:30 pm est, the Super Bowl begins. Once the clock strikes quad zeros, the NFL off-season officially begins. Across the nation, players are preparing for various scheduled workouts that will take place in the oncoming months, in front of NFL coaches, team scouts, and front office personnel. Typically the off-season workouts are scheduled in the following order: NFL Scouting Combine, School Pro Days, NFL Private Workouts. This year, a certain collegiate player is breaking out of the off-season box and is trying something unconventional, maybe starting a new trend.
If you haven’t heard, Cam Newton is holding a press conference to announce where he will sign. Wait…oops, my apologies everyone, that’s that other guy. Lets try that again. Cam Newton is holding an media-only workout on February 10th in San Diego. Lets be honest, this does have a “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” type of feel. Nonetheless, Cam and his father, Cecil Newton are out to prove that Cam is worth a high first round selection and is not the next JaMarcus Russell.
NFL personnel are not allowed to attend this workout. There is a rule in place that states “NFL Scouts are not allowed to attend any events other than the Combine and School Pro Days”.
I’m not sure what to make of this. Fortunately, one NFL Executive has anonymously gone on record with Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com/CBSSports.com. He kindly categorized Newton’s media-only workout as nothing more than a “publicity stunt.” Another scout had this to say:
"The Newtons would be best to realize they aren’t in college anymore. Regardless of how good he looks for [the media], there isn’t going to be a bidding war for him,” the scout told Rang. “We’re not recruiting him. They could wind up turning more people against them than for them with this [workout]."
What Cam Newton is doing is both good and bad. The Good: He is working with quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield. Whitfield previously worked with Super Bowl quarterback, Ben Rothlisberger during his early season suspension. In conjunction, they are meticulously working to refine his foot work and five and seven step drop. The Bad: He runs the risk of alienating himself. The fact that his father is involved after being found guilty by the NCAA for shopping Newton to Div-1 teams, is absurd. No one knows how this will turn out. Maybe it’ll improve his stock, maybe it won’t. What I do know is that the NFL is not fond of people stepping to far out of the box, and Newton currently has two feet and a arm outside of it.