Cam Newton: I View Myself As An Entertainer And Icon

Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton created a stir on Tuesday when he said that he views himself as more than a football player.

According to Peter King, Newton said: "I see myself not only as a football player, but an entertainer and icon.''

Newton also told Dan Wetzel of Yahoo that he wants to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. When asked to comment on the criticism that he only played on year in college football, the 2011 BCS champion showed his confidence in himself.

"I'm aware of that statement," Newton said. "I don't want to sound arrogant but I did something in one year people couldn't do in their whole collegiate careers."

The 21-year-old will participate in this week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Later in the interview, Newton pointed out that it takes hard work in the offseason and regular season to be as good as other quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

Comments

[FFSource]

05:12 PM on 03/02/2011

Cam's a superstar and he's taking his talents to South Beach. Just like another sports icon. http://bit.ly/NewtonFins

[Ty LaRue]

03:54 PM on 02/26/2011

Dude seems to have a lot of excuses for many of his problems

[jonmag]

04:54 AM on 02/25/2011

be careful CAM NFL media is entirely different. They will highlight all your mistakes and every time you have a bad game they will ramble on about how you are not NFL material so get ready for them....Ignore the commentors and fans they are generally clueless

[MaToLa]

04:48 AM on 02/25/2011

Pretty sure there are several linebackers waiting to strike this young man down to size.

[GenTsOT]

07:31 PM on 02/28/2011

Knowing Cam Newton, he's looking forward to them trying.

[Billy Jumper]

03:33 AM on 02/25/2011

As a Steelers fan, I hope Roethlisberger is listening to this astute young man.

[biglog]

01:10 AM on 02/25/2011

Epic bust waiting to happen.

[mardar35]

10:15 PM on 02/24/2011

newton hasn't been drafted; in fact he hasn't even stepped on the field in the combines and already he's full of himself.

icons don't need to talk about how great they are (montana, rice, elway..etc) they showed it on the football field.

unless san francisco wants to waste millions of dollars on another quarterback in the first round, they'll be smart to pass on this fool.

[Joshua Radon]

08:32 PM on 02/24/2011

I did not even knew who Cam Newton was until the middle of the college football season, so what you won a Heisman and barely won the BCS National Championship. That does not make you and Icon. I hope you fail in the NFL.

[DHWRD]

09:17 PM on 02/24/2011

The Heisman is the highest honor in college football ... and no one barely wins a national title , either they win it or they don't. For you to wish he fails in the NFL shows something that is lacking in your character as a man.... you need some help really bad and really fast .. to say you should be ashamed of your post is an understatement.

[Hip]

01:41 PM on 02/26/2011

Hey hater!

[Divatude]

05:39 PM on 02/24/2011

Good Luck, I wish you the best.

[sloan77]

02:04 PM on 02/24/2011

I get what he was trying to say and even understand how he could view himself that way. Tim Tebow is an icon based on the way he played. Even Reggie Bush is an icon based on the way he played his position and he didn't outgain Lendal White as far as rushing yards goes. Michael Vick is an icon. Charls Barkley is an ICON based on the way he played and talked but if you look at his stats, people have done what he has before and aren't regarded as highly as he is. Other players aspire to be compared to all of these players.
What really hurts Newton are the allegations. He had an amazing statistical year. He was by far the best college football player this year. Yet, too many people don't believe he should have been eligible. He should be viewed as an icon, but the it's hard to do that when every time your name is metioned, allegations follow.Even for his fans.

[abuja19]

11:40 AM on 02/24/2011

Yo Cam, I'm really happy for you and all...but Tebow is one of the greatest college QB's of all time!

[harry3864]

04:32 AM on 02/24/2011

Jamarcus Russell

[Opinionated1111]

03:07 AM on 02/24/2011

At 21 years old - you need to learn a little humility......

[Eva Munet]

02:46 AM on 02/24/2011

Two words....Tim Teabow. Don't hype yourself up untill you got the goods to show it. I'm a huge Auburn fan and loved watching Newton play. He's got the raw talent to be something great in the future....the important word there is raw. If his ego outpaces his athletic acheivements he might find the NFL not as open to his "entertainment"

[Knowitall]

11:37 PM on 02/23/2011

Let's give the guy a break. Since he hasn't played a single down in a professional football game, he is definitely not an "icon". Besides, that term is rarely used to describe people, so my guess is Cam didn't quite know the meaning of the word. He probably meant something like an example, or a role model. To some young people he may very well be.

Too bad so many here are so cynical and jealous that they are already predicting that he will fail. That says more about them, then it does about Cam. I wish him good luck.