NFL Combine creates more Cam Newton drama
Former Auburn quarterback and Heisman Trophy-winner Cam Newton just couldn't let his incredible athletic talent speak for itself at the NFL combine in Indianapolis this weekend.
Newton said in an interview earlier this week that he wants to be known "not only as a football player, but an entertainer and icon."
Sports Illustrated's Don Banks wrote that that statement made many in the league recoil. One NFL head coach told Banks: " That's exactly the wrong message to send. You want your quarterback to be the exact opposite of a guy who's interested in something like that. I can't believe he'd actually say something like that, but that's a guy I want no part of."
Several outlets report that Newton's stock in the draft had been rising so rapidly, he may be the number one overall pick. In seeking to quell the reaction to his outburst that could hurt his draft stock, Newton tried to downplay the self-assured comments, telling a gaggle of reporters Saturday: "First and foremost, I understand that my obligation is to be the best possible football player I can be. I know and believe that."
Newton just escaped greater controversy while leading the Tigers on their championship run last year. The NCAA ruled in December that Newton was unaware of the pay-for-play scheme involving his father, Cecil, and the owner of a scouting service. Cecil Newton and Kenny Rogers - a former Mississippi State player who worked for an agent - sought money for the quarterback to play for the Bulldogs.
Other NFL combine news and notes:
- Former Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, another top QB talent entering the draft this year, told SI's Banks that NFL scouts and coaches shouldn't be worried about him making the transition from a mostly spread offense to the NFL's more varied style of play.
"Tim Tebow, the knock on him was he was 100-percent shotgun quarterback, and he started the last three games at Denver and had (rookie) success,'' Gabbert said in his Friday afternoon media session. "Sam (Bradford), he was the same way. He was in the shotgun a lot in college. Colt McCoy, the same way. These guys all had success in their rookie seasons, so I really don't see a problem being a spread quarterback in college, because if you're good, you're good. You're going to play wherever.''
- St. Louis Rams scout Luke Driscoll, 33, was arrested early Friday and released for public intoxication and public indecency. According to a police report, Driscoll was urinating on a downtown building when two police officers approached, one of them a woman. A spokesman for the Indianapolis police said Driscoll then exposed himself to one of the officers.
- Auburn's Nick Fairley and Alabama's Marcell Dareus are hoping to follow in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's footsteps. Suh burst onto the national scene as a senior at Nebraska and went on to be named an All-Pro as a rookie last year. Fairley and Dareus are part of a rare breed of versatile, game-changing defensive tackle in Suh's mold.
- Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, who stands to compete with Fairley and Dareus as top draft picks, told ESPN he wants to be the number one overall. Although Bowers won't take physical tests because he's recovering from minor knee surgery, Bowers said he wants to be the number one pick, adding: "I don't think anybody here doesn't have the goal to be the No. 1 pick." Bowers led the nation with 15.5 sacks in 2010.
- Top prospect Ryan Mallet sidestepped questions surrounding accusations that he has "character and drug use issues," ESPN reports. The former Arkansas quarterback told reporters Saturday: "Nah, I'm not going to talk about that right now. I've got interviews with the teams, and the teams need to know what they need to know, and I'm going to leave it at that."
The powerful thrower had been considered one of the top three or four quarterbacks in this year's draft class, but analysts have erased him from their first-round projections over the past month.
- NFL agents are becoming more than financial advisers and attorneys. They're becoming full-fledged family advisers. With a lockout possibly looming, agents are increasingly providing information to players about medical and disability insurance. They're also dispensing details on the new health care law that allows players who are 26 or younger to remain on their parents' policies.
That's not all. Agents are advising players on saving money, finding quality workout facilities and staying in shape so they don't risk losing money because of an offseason injury. It's all in preparation for a lockout that could begin Friday after the collective bargaining agreement expires.