NFL's Top Overall Draft Choice
NEW ORLEANS -- Cam Newton wore a navy-blue fit having a vibrant orange tie -- his previous Auburn colors -- as he formally obtained one more national award for his extraordinary 2010 school season.
Newton, last month made the NFL's top overall draft choice by Carolina, could not have worn official Panthers gear to the Manning Award ceremonies Friday even when he wanted to, thanks to the league's ongoing lockout. But he spoke confidently about the function he is putting in on his personal to obtain prepared for his first professional season. Clyde Drexler #22 Hardwood red Jersey
Becoming barred from operating at team headquarters together with his new coaches while NFL labor strife drags on, he says, is "nothing that I'm worried about correct now."
"One thing that I'm worried about is to try to concentrate on learning up to I can come time that the lockout is lifted," Newton stated, adding that he acquired a copy of Carolina's playbook once the lockout was briefly lifted by a judge April 29.
"It's a lot of materials that I don't know, but every day I'm going in and learning something," Newton stated. "So by the time ... the lockout is lifted and I get a chance to talk to (offensive coordinator Rob) Chudzinski and (quarterbacks coach Mike) Shula and meet back up using the team, I'll be on top of my game."
Named for previous Ole Miss and New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, the Manning award is given yearly towards the nation's top school quarterback.
Newton, also the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner, flew in to New Orleans to select up his award from Bradenton, Fla., where he's been exercising at the IMG Institute and refining his sport with former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.
Newton said he is been starting his days about seven a.m. and frequently not finishing up till about seven every evening. He starts with treatment for any soreness lingering from prior routines. His days also include conditioning and at least an hour or two of work with Weinke, a former Panther. Ron Artest #96 White Jersey
Archie Manning, who also attended the ceremony, stated he believes Newton is a "tremendous" athlete with the requisite motivation to be effective in the NFL, but -- speaking from his personal professional encounter and from subsequent the careers of his sons, Peyton and Eli -- stated it is tough to predict how lengthy it will consider for Newton to fulfill his promise. And it may, he said, take longer than usual because of the lockout.
