Cam Newton says he was 'very immature' and 'a bad teammate' during 2011

Posted: 03:20 PM ET May 30, 2012

By Will Brinson | Senior NFL Blogger

Not necessarily a relevant picture, but Cam + Hamm = Awesome. (Getty Images)
There's not a whole lot of bad things you can say about Cam Newton's performance during the 2011 season, when he set the rookie record for passing yards in a season and generally set the league on fire.

That is, unless you're Alex Smith and trying to make a pedantic argument about the statistical importance of passing yards. Or, apparently, Cam Newton himself -- the quarterback told Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports that he was "very immature" and "a bad teammate" last year.

"I was very immature," Newton told Cole. "I'll be the first one to tell you, the pouting and the moping, I kind of overdid it. I know that. I was a bad teammate. I shut off to some people who gave unbelievable effort. That's where I have to mature."

There was reason to think that Newton was a little surly last year: Newton wasn't the most energetic fella during his postgame press conferences following Panthers losses. And there was some belief that Newton was "shutting people off" when he wore a towel on his head on the sidelines. (Personally, I think it's way overblown, but expect Newton's comments to re-engergize that tired debate.)

Perhaps "shutting down" is the wrong word though. Newton's quotables from Cole's article sound worse than what the quarterback was actually saying, which was that he put a lot of blame on himself for the losses.

“Half the time it wasn't me shutting people down because I was thinking they weren't giving the same effort as me, it was me knowing there were things I could do that could have changed the outcome of the game," Newton said. "I put a lot on me to be able to respond. When things are going wrong, I wanted to have the ball in my hand, just like any warrior, any competitor who has played this game.

"When you don't get the results you want, I didn't go about it the right way."

It shouldn't be all that surprising that Newton struggled with losing in his rookie year. He was coming off one of the more ridiculous seasons in college football history -- not only did he put up stupid numbers (2,854 passing yards, 1,473 rushing yards, 50 touchdowns) while Auburn went undefeated en route to a BCS title, but he did it all while getting absolutely smothered with coverage of off-field rumors.

That's not an easy adjustment, especially when big stats as a rookie aren't translating to wins the way that they probably should have. But read the entire article from Cole and you'll see that Newton's being challenged by the teammates -- the re-born Steve Smith, the heavily-utilized Greg Olsen to name a few -- and coaches -- quarterbacks coach Mike Shula -- to name a few.

And more importantly, he's he's challenging himself to get better and improve on his response to bad games, series and plays.

"I have to have the same mentality, but I have to go about it in a different way," Newton said. "It's an overall maturity level that has to kick in. It's saying, 'OK, that was two plays ago that you threw that interception, now you have to let that go and get past that.' I can't be moping and crying about making a bonehead play when it was three series ago. That's the thing that I did that has to change."

If Newton's able to do that, he'll end up avoiding any sort of sophomore slump and could end up being more productive (at least in terms of high productivity with a greater efficiency). And if that happens, Newton will definitely get his wish when it comes to people tuning in to see the Panthers.

"My fingers are crossed and my knees are on the floor every night just praying and just demanding that people watch the show and see what happens this year," Newton said. "Just watch the show."

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Tags: Alex Smith, Alex Smith, Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers, NFL

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Want to clean up during free agency? Just follow some simple rules

A player like Red Bryant doesn't get fans excited, but can make teams even better. (Getty Images)

The NFL kicks off free agency Tuesday, which will officially open the mad season, as if Peyton Manning hasn't already kicked that off.

To help prepare for the endless stream of moves, signings, releases, restructuring, agents leaking info, agent propaganda about players and everything else that goes on for the next month or so, I offer Dos and Don'ts for all NFL teams.

These would all apply if I were an NFL general manager, which I often play out here on the pages of CBSSports.com -- much to my e-mailers' chagrin.

Do: Pay big for elite pass-rushers in their prime.

Why: They are few and far between, and rarely do they hit the market. Yet here's Mario Williams, one of the better pass rushers in the league on the market at the age of 27. How can a team pass on that?

Don't: Sign any player over the age of 30 for a big-money deal -- unless it's a quarterback.

Why: Most of the time -- no, nearly all the time -- that player's best football is behind him. So you are essentially paying for past production, rather than future potential. The price is often higher than it should be based on resume rather than the future. That's where teams get in trouble. Often it's the fans who want the name players, refusing to see that those players have played their best football already. Teams have to avoid hearing the clamor and reacting.

Do: Look for guys who are 27 or so and have at least 20 starts in the past two years after having 10 or fewer in their first two years.

Why: It means growth. It means improvement. It means the timing is right. Seattle's Red Bryant: One start first two seasons. Had 23 the last two. That's the type of player teams need to sign.

Don't: Pay fullbacks.

Why: This is a passing league now. They were big in your daddy's NFL. Not the way the game is played today. It's an air league. Not a smash-mouth league anymore. Fullbacks aren't that important. Draft a big slug in the seventh round and make him your fullback.

Do: Grab a pass rusher when you can.

Why: See the New York Giants. You can never have enough of those guys. It might not mean signing Williams to a long-term deal that will be as big as any defensive player in the NFL, but it might mean getting a situational guy who can play in the rotation. Pass rushers are gold in the current NFL.

Don't: Sign anybody's restricted free agent to an offer sheet and give up a first-round pick.

Why: That means you’re taking Steelers wideout Mike Wallace. It's just not worth it for a variety of reasons. One, you have to pay a huge dollar deal with a lot of guaranteed money to even have a chance to get the player. If you do sign him to a sheet, the team can always match it, which means you essentially wasted time doing their negotiating. And, finally, that draft pick would be cheap labor and younger. Isn't that an advantage teams want?

Do: Try and keep your own

Why: You know them. They know you. It's easy to know them as people and as workers in the locker room.

Don't: Get sentimental.

Why: It might be nice to keep your own, but within reason. Don't pay an older, aging player just because he's done some good things for you. Sentiment is for losers. The Steelers have always done a great job letting veteran players walk and replacing them with younger, faster, better talent. That's the way it should be.

Do: Find a bigger corner you can move to safety.

Why: Look at the Houston secondary. They start four players who have started at corner in their careers. That's the prototype secondary -- provided they improve at one corner spot -- for the modern NFL game. Jacksonville hit on Dwight Lowery, a former corner, who started at safety last year. PS: Lowery is an unrestricted free agent.

Don't: Pay big money and project quarterbacks with limited starts as future franchise passers.

Why: They haven't started for a reason. Sometimes, it works out. Mark Brunell did a nice job in Jacksonville. Matt Schaub has done the same in Houston. But there are too many flops. Guys like Rob Johnson, Scott Mitchell and some might even throw in Kevin Kolb and Matt Cassel -- two average players who start. There is a reason Matt Flynn went in the seventh round. He can be solid, but he will never be a star. Be careful how you pay him.

Do: Try to find a third-down back -- for the right price.

Why: I hate the idea of paying feature backs, but I love the idea of giving a third-down backs the right contract. Getting backs involved in the passing game, even on early downs, is about to become an even bigger part of offensive football. The Saints did it with Darren Sproles last year and I think Atlanta will do it more with Jacquizz Rodgers this year. The pass-catching backs, the kind who can turn a screen pass into a 60-yard scoring play, are valuable commodities.

Don't: Sign corners who can't run.

Why: Larry Brown. Remember him? He had two picks in a Super Bowl for the Cowboys and the Raiders signed him to a big deal the next spring. He wasn't fast enough to be a top corner and was considered an Oakland flop. You have to run to play that position, with rare exceptions.

Do: Try to find a second or third receiver for the right price.

Why: With so many spread formations, you need that guy. This comes with a caveat: Do not try and make that second guy a No. 1 receiver. That doesn't work. You are what you are. A Mario Manningham is never going to be a No. 1 receiver. So be rational.

Don't: Sign two-down, run-stuffing linebackers.

Why: This is a passing league. The nickel corner is now more valuable. The run-stuffing linebacker comes off on passing downs, and we know there are a lot more of those these days.

Do: Sign hard-working, good locker-room guys.

Why: Transition can be tough. You want the right people inside the building. Not Saints, mind you, but hard workers.

Don't: Pay Randy Moss.

Why: See above. He has loafed. He isn't a great teammate. And, oh yeah, he's old.

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NFL Picks and Tips for Sports Investors During the NFL Preseason

NFL Picks and Tips for Sports Investors During the NFL Preseason

?This seems to be a norm for most seasoned sports bettors. A considerable number of sports bettors who are initially focused on regular season of the NFL ultimately find it more appealing and rewarding when they go for NFL picks during the preseason. For a lot of savvy sports investors, this seems to be a sound betting philosophy, although logic dictates that the real deal only happens during the regular season.

Obviously, you will not have the confidence going for NFL picks during the preseason for the simple reason that NFL teams are playing with nothing at stake. For most of us, this is a valid assumption and you cannot place bets when the teams are playing by simply going through the motions without any real concern about the final outcome.

The truth of the matter is that NFL preseason games can be the treasure trove for sports bettors who will decide to use NFL picks and give the preseason a try. If you really want to follow the lead of successful and seasoned sports investors then preseason NFL picks have got to be part of your betting arsenal.

Here are some important tips that you have to be aware of when betting during the NFL preseason.

Consider new coaches and coaching staff of NFL teams

You don't really need to be a rocket scientist to understand that appointments of new coaches and coaching staff do affect the overall performance of NFL teams. In most instances, a new coach would be handling a team with so-so performance during the previous season. This alters the general complexion of the game and it is highly likely that the coaching staff and players will have that extra push to notch those wins to get the team back on the winning track.

Consider the rotation of players

While this may not be established during the initial games, a sharp sports investor will be able to find NFL teams that will utilize their starters more often than the others. This is material advantage and you should expect to have a winning NFL picks that are going for NFL teams that are inclined to give more playing time to their starters during the preseason.

Consider the Competition in the QB Position

If you have an NFL team that has a pair of quarterbacks or more jockeying for the starting position, the coach will most likely allow each of the quarterbacks to assume the slot with the team's starting unit. This means sharp dips and picks in the overall performance of the NFL team. This element should be taken into account when you assess your betting options and consider your winning NFL picks.

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Britt, Austin take opposite roads during lockout time

Late last month, Tennessee receiver Kenny Britt, one of the NFL's more promising young pass catchers, surrendered himself to Nashville police. Britt had been accused of providing false information for a driver's license, which resulted in warrants for his arrest. It was one of many legal problems that has sent Britt down a Pacman Jones-like rabbit hole of alleged criminal wrongdoing.

Around the same time, a confident woman stared at her son with the radioactive gleam of a proud mom. Ann Austin watched Miles, the Pro Bowl receiver with the Dallas Cowboys, speak with the media at his inaugural charity event to help disadvantaged youths at the North Jersey Country Club in June.

Miles Austin put on the First Annual Austin Family Foundation Golf Outing last month at North Jersey Country Club. (Getty Images) "I look at him and as a mom can't help but be so proud," she said. "He came from nowhere and now plays for the Dallas Cowboys. His life could have gone in so many other directions but he stayed focused and worked hard."

Britt and Austin, once you look deeper, are actually very comparable. Britt was born in Bayonne, N.J., played his football at Rutgers, and most NFL scouts consider him one of the more physically gifted receivers in football. Austin was born in Summit, also played his college football in New Jersey, at Monmouth, and possesses equally devastating tools. Miles is the better player, but Britt might actually have more potential.

They are comparable except in one sense: During the lockout, their careers have taken drastically different paths.

Austin used the lockout to improve his game and life. He did what you'd want a player to do. He is in supreme shape, having worked out almost daily since the lockout began. Austin and his family also put together the charity golf event.

Britt has made different choices. Instead of using the lockout to improve his skills or be productive off the field, he has made headlines with arrests, not charity. In June, he was arrested for resisting arrest (a charge that was later reduced). It was one of several problems Britt has faced during the lockout in what overall has been a troubled career.

Two young receivers, the lockout pushing their careers in alternate directions, making different choices.

The lockout will make or break some careers. Britt is expected to face discipline from both the Titans and the NFL (though the legality of punishing a player after a lockout will surely be addressed by the NFLPA). His actions during the 100-plus-day standoff cast doubt on his ability to be a professional. All Austin has done is better himself.

Austin answered perfectly when asked what he thought was the biggest thing players have to do during the lockout?

"Police yourself," he said. "Stay busy by keeping yourself in shape. Work out, don't get lazy.

"What can happen is that lockout can make players complacent. You have to fight that and act like the lockout can end any minute. When it does end, you'll see right away who was working out, who kept sharp, and who didn't. It'll be immediately noticeable."

The lockout is almost over (we hope) and Austin's theory could be put to the test. Will we see a legion of players who kept focused the way Austin did? My guess is yes. Unfortunately, a few of the Britt-type players will slip through the cracks as well.

Britt hasn't been charged with a crime in days now. That's the good news. The bad news for him is that the lockout isn't over yet.

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