Shining Bright — On and Off the Field

Cam Dances, Celebrates His Way to Becoming MVP, International Star

By Jonathan Jones

Here's how big Cam Newton has become:

In her final year as first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama has enlisted Newton to help her Partnership for a Healthier America, a drive to help kids make healthier choices.

The smile, the dance, the celebrations ... Newton is internationally known, and football sometimes almost seems inconsequential.

Charlotte has never seen an active player's star shine as brightly as Newton.

His impact came before he chose to wear No. 1 for the Carolina Panthers — a decision he made when his college number, 2, was already taken by Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen, and one he stayed with in 2012 when the number became available.

During his Heisman run at Auburn, Newton made famous the Superman pose that is now synonymous with him. Newton puts both hands to his chest and acts as if he's ripping open his button-up shirt to reveal the 'S' underneath.

Five years into the league, Newton continues to do it for each rushing touchdown — all 45 in the regular season and playoffs. And players at all levels imitate him.

Opponents mock Newton with the Superman pose after getting a sack or forcing a fumble against Newton. High school and college players have been doing it for years in admiration of Newton.

But Newton needed some help early on in developing the celebration.

"He was talking about it and doing it with one hand," Chad Froechtenicht, Newton's teammate at Blinn Junior College, said in an interview in 2015. "I said, 'Cam, Superman does it with two hands. You've got to rip it off. You've got to use two hands.' I corrected him, and then it just started from there."

Over the years, Newton has developed quite the cadre of sponsors. His time at Auburn, an Under Armour school, made his deal with the apparel giant an obvious one. Newton has also picked up deals with Gatorade, Beats by Dre, GMC, Dannon and Belk, with which he has his own clothing line.

Unique isn't a strong enough word to describe Newton's fashion style. When his MADE line launched in 2013, Newton seemed to dress more traditionally.

Over time that style morphed into more high-fashion — the kind of look you see on New York runways.

The man-pris pants, loafers with spikes, big Arby's-looking hats, foxtails attached to his belt loop. Newton is one-of-one when it comes to fashion.

His Nickelodeon show, "All in with Cam Newton," debuted in the summer of 2016. The 30-episode series matched kids with a mentor who helped the children follow their dreams. Newton's empire is expanding to children's television programming, where he's an executive producer.

Newton's play on the field is as good as it's ever been as evidenced by his NFL MVP award. He received 48 of a possible 50 votes for the league's ultimate individual title.

The blend of his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame with his speed, physicality, arm strength and smarts is something rarely seen. It had been more than 20 years since a dual-threat quarterback won the league's MVP award (Steve Young, in 1994) before Newton took it home.

His rise in popularity is reflected in what fans are consuming.

From March 2013 until March 2014, Newton's NFL officially licensed merchandise — which includes jerseys, shirts and toys — ranked him as the 27th highest-selling player in the league. The following year he moved to 24th.

In 2015, he ranked seventh.

Newton's dancing has become one of the most popular, and divisive, aspects of today's NFL.

It's more than the Superman pose, the 1,000 megawatt smile or his traditional handing the touchdown football to little kids. Newton breaks out the latest dance craze — commonly from the hip-hop community — and incorporates that into his celebrations.

The one that caught on was the dab.

The beauty and genius behind the dab is that it's so easy to replicate. Someone with little to no rhythm can tuck their head into their arm and make a presentable dab.

Newton began doing it after rushing for first downs early in the 2015 season, but it didn't become a phenomenon until, after a game in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans, a Tennessee mom couldn't figure out what to tell her daughter about Newton's dancing.

The dab, which Newton adopted from the rap trio Migos, spread quickly. European soccer players were doing it. Hockey players were, too. Young boys in the stands at basketball games would dab when the in-house camera put them on the video board.

Coaches and teammates say it's just Cam being Cam.

"You're looking at a man who's not afraid to be himself," comedian Kevin Hart said in 2015, when he and Ice Cube were with Newton in Charlotte promoting a film.

"I think what's great about Cam is that personality is what the sport needs. That flair. That spark. That ultimate level of swagger. I think so many people try to create personas and create characteristic traits that they think the world wants to see. Ultimately the world just wants to see you be you.

"And regardless of your color, race, shape or size, you can fit in as long as you're yourself because people know what they're getting into. People know what they're getting with this guy and he's having fun doing it. I'm loving watching it."

So is Charlotte.

Panthers Pin Hopes on Cam Newton

QB Says His Top Priority 'Is to Get with This Organization and Get Going.'

By Scott Fowler | April 29, 2011

The Carolina Panthers bet the house on Cam Newton, making him the No.1 overall pick in the NFL draft. The Panthers took possibly the biggest risk in franchise history by drafting Newton, hoping that he will lead them to big rewards as he did for Auburn in college. In one spectacular season, the quarterback won both a national championship and the Heisman Trophy while accounting for 50 total touchdowns.

The Panthers made their No.1 selection immediately Thursday night, within 10 seconds of the announcement that they were on the 10-minute "clock" teams get to make first-round picks. Newton quickly pulled on a Panthers hat that clashed with his pink tie, gave high-fives to his family and walked onstage to hold up a No.1 Panthers jersey alongside NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The loudspeakers blared "Cat Scratch Fever" as Newton gazed around Radio City Music Hall, soaking it all in with a dazzling smile that will become very familiar to Panthers fans. His father and his two brothers quickly put on Panthers' hats, too. Newton said later in a post-draft interview he only knew for sure he was the Panthers' pick when he heard his name called.

"My No.1 priority is to get with this organization and get going," Newton said. "I am moving to Charlotte ASAP."

When asked if he was ready to be the face of the Panthers' franchise, Newton said: "Absolutely. Absolutely. I'm ready to be in Charlotte and ready to get to work and take care of business."

What does Carolina now have with Newton? A quarterback who, at 6foot-5 and 250 pounds, is larger than many linebackers. A magnetic personality who — when he wants to turn it on — can light up a roomful of kids or adults. And a number of questions, including how well he can learn an offense much more complicated than what Auburn ran in 2010 and how focused he will be once he inevitably becomes a multimillionaire.

Newton said he will be fueled by his numerous critics and that he understood being chosen No. 1 would make him even more of a target. Said Newton: "I understand that everybody is not just going to stop and just say, 'That's Cam. He's the No. 1 pick. And we can leave him alone.' If anything, the floodgates have opened officially."

Like all elite athletes, Newton has an ego. You could hear it in his voice Thursday when he was asked about comparisons to quarterback Vince Young, who has had a spotty NFL career.

Countered Newton: "I'm my own man. I'm my own athlete. I shouldn't be compared to anybody because the attributes I bring to this game are something I haven't really worked out. That's what I work at, and what I work to be — my own category."

Burdened by the worst offense in the NFL last season, the Panthers went 2-14. But Newton isn't necessarily expected to start right away at Carolina, which may be reticent to throw another rookie quarterback directly into the fire and returns second-year starter Jimmy Clausen.

As Newton's father, Cecil Newton, told me this week in New York: "It's not just going to just be an immediate impact. You're not going to go straight into the Super Bowl and start winning."

The elder Newton, of course, expects his son to eventually succeed. And many others do as well — assuming Newton stays out of the off-field trouble that occasionally dogged his collegiate career.

Eddie George, the former star NFL running back and now a broadcaster, told me Thursday before the draft: "Cam is a beast. He's got that Magic Johnson smile, and his athleticism speaks for itself. But now the biggest test comes, because everybody is going to want to ride his coattails, to be in his entourage. How will he handle that? Is he studying film, or is he out in the clubs? Because if he focuses on his craft and hones his skills, he could one day be the best quarterback in the NFL."

When the NFL introduced 25 top draft prospects to the crowd at Radio City Music Hall 30 minutes before the draft began, Newton drew both the most cheers and the most boos. It reminded me of NASCAR driver introductions back when the late Dale Earnhardt's name would get called.

Only Goodell drew more boos at this NFL draft than Newton (and the commissioner didn't receive any cheers, either), due to the current labor dispute between the NFL and its players. The rowdy crowd struck up a chant of "We want football!!"

"Me, too," Goodell said.

The Panthers' coaches want it, too, of course, because they need to get Newton started. And although the NFL labor dispute is still evolving, players have been cleared to resume working out at their club's facilities. Newton said he plans to fly to Charlotte, get a playbook and start studying it immediately.

"I'm ready to get this show on the road," Newton said. "And it warms my heart to go to an excellent city like Charlotte."

Sweet in Defeat

Newton Is Spectacular in His Panthers Debut, Tying an NFL Record for the Most Passing Yards by a Rookie QB

By Joseph Person | September 12, 2011

Cam Newton began his pro career by lighting up the same field where his electric college career ended. And just like the BCS title game in January, Newton flung the ball all over University of Phoenix Stadium and led his offense up and down the field.

While confetti fell on Newton after Auburn beat Oregon for the national championship, there would be no storybook ending for the Panthers' quarterback Sunday.

He'll have to settle for one of the best passing performances by a rookie in NFL history.

Brushing off criticism that he could not succeed as a pro passer, Newton shredded the Arizona secondary for 422 yards and accounted for all three of the Panthers' touchdowns. But the Cardinals took advantage of secondary and special teams breakdowns by the Panthers to claim a 2821 victory and spoil the debut of the No. 1 draft pick.

Newton broke the record held by Peyton Manning (302) for passing yards by a rookie in Week 1 and equaled Matthew Stafford's record yardage total for rookies. Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick of Detroit, threw for 422 yards against Cleveland in Week 10 in 2009.

Since 1960, only three quarterbacks have passed for more yards in a season opener than Newton: Dan Marino (473 in 1994), Kurt Warner (441 in 2000) and Manning (433 in 2010).

"That's some rare company to beat out. And then your first crack out of the box," Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross said. "He's only going to get better from here. He didn't even really scramble and do anything with his legs. I'm excited to be on a team with him. Our offense is much improved and I expect us to get a lot better next week."

Newton completed 24 of 37 passes and finished with a passer rating of 110.4. He had two touchdowns — both to Steve Smith, covering 77 and 26 yards — and one interception.

But he couldn't get the Panthers into the end zone on five tries from the 11 or closer in the final two minutes, and was not in the mood for celebrating afterward.

"Cam's very disappointed," said Smith, who had eight catches for 178 yards. "I'm encouraged by that."

Despite Smith's big day, he was not targeted with the game on the line. Panthers coach Ron Rivera, who also was making his debut, said Smith was the first read on at least one of the plays.

Said Smith: "Some I was and some I was there to occupy the safety. That's my job in certain situations, and I tried to do it to the best of my abilities."

On first down from the 11, Newton threw a ball that bounced off tailback Mike Goodson's hands. After Newton twice overthrew Legedu Naanee, tight end Greg Olsen came down with Newton's fourth-down pass out of bounds.

But the Cardinals were offside on the play. On fourth-and-5 from the 6 with 1 minute, 19 seconds left, Newton threw a short pass to Goodson, who was stopped by linebacker Paris Lenon a yard short of the first down. Though Olsen was open on the play, Goodson was the first option out of the backfield.

"We felt our matchup was better than theirs. We could have gotten in," Newton said. "We missed some opportunities. That game didn't come down to the last play."

The Panthers led 21-14 entering the final quarter after Newton's first touchdown run — a 1-yard dive that capped an 80-yard drive.

But the Cardinals caught Carolina in a blitz on their first possession of the fourth quarter. With the Panthers sending their linebackers, Kevin Kolb threw short to Early Doucet, who ran through a poor tackle attempt by safety Jordan Pugh and went 70 yards to make it 21-all.

Pugh said he blew his assignment on the play. He was supposed to be in man coverage on Doucet, but got crossed up and was nowhere near Doucet when he caught Kolb's pass.

"I take all the blame on that," Pugh said. "That's all on me."

When the Panthers' next drive stalled at the Arizona 47, punter Jason Baker came out for a rugby-type kick designed to pin the Cardinals deep. But rookie Patrick Peterson, the fifth pick in the April draft, fielded it at the 11, found a crease and went 89 yards for the go-ahead score with 7:15 left.

The Panthers' outside gunners, including Pugh, were behind Peterson when he caught it after running past him to get in position to down the punt.

"It's one of those gray areas for us as gunners," Pugh said. "You try to play both, and it backfired. But he made a heck of a play, too."

Peterson almost was burned by a little showboating. He slowed around the 15-yard line, but sped up when he saw Goodson closing on him.

"I was gonna give you guys a taste of my dancing skills," Peterson said. "I couldn't. I took a quick peek and I saw him behind me and was like, 'Oh, I gotta get there now,' and that's when I dove in for the touchdown."

The big plays were the difference in a game when the Panthers outgained Arizona 422 to 309 in passing yardage, had 11 more first downs and held more than a five-minute edge in time of possession.

"We had a couple of momentum swings that really took the wind out of our sail, offensively and defensively," Rivera said. "But the bottom line is we can't have that. We're too young a football team to survive self-inflicted wounds. And we have nobody to blame but ourselves."

Newton's record-setting day gives hope to a team that had little of it during a 2-14 finish in 2010.

"There's been a lot of good rookies that have played this game. And to be No. 1, that's a pretty special mark — on the road, in that kind of environment," Olsen said.

"It's a true testament to the type of player he is, and athlete he is. He's just one of those guys when he gets in the game, there's just something about him. There's some guys that have it, and some don't."

Under the retractable roof in the stadium he owns, Newton had it Sunday.