Cam Newton

Just say no to physical talent without the mental ability.
Cam never progressed beyond being a physical freak.  He had lazy mechanics and never learned to beat a team with his arm (and brain). 

@"greediron" said:

Just say no to physical talent without the mental ability. Cam never progressed beyond being a physical freak.  He had lazy mechanics and never learned to beat a team with his arm (and brain). 

   Gotta wonder if his best days are behind him from being hit so many times.

*bump*
Will never in 1000 years happen, but Winston and Dalton just signed for between $1-3M, respectively.
Cam for 1 year/$2M (if he'd take it) is so much better than Mannion $1 year/$1M it's actually ridiculous.
I like Spielman, and I'm on board for another year of Zimmer, but I will NEVER be okay with their handling of the backup QB position. The starting QB should not be coddled, he should pushed to be great. The successful teams around the league are realizing this. The Vikings unfortunately are not (yet).
Hopefully Kirk stays healthy and you don't need him. But trading a pick for a QB in-season in the event Kirk gets hurt is a lot pricier than signing one of these guys today. Dalton and Winston both would've been upgrades over Mannion as well. I don't get it.

no trivia question about the Vikings QB  should ever have the answer "Cam Newton"

@"pattersaur" said:

*bump* Will never in 1000 years happen, but Winston and Dalton just signed for between $1-3M, respectively. Cam for 1 year/$2M (if he'd take it) is so much better than Mannion $1 year/$1M it's actually ridiculous. I like Spielman, and I'm on board for another year of Zimmer, but I will NEVER be okay with their handling of the backup QB position. The starting QB should not be coddled, he should pushed to be great. The successful teams around the league are realizing this. The Vikings unfortunately are not (yet). Hopefully Kirk stays healthy and you don't need him. But trading a pick for a QB in-season in the event Kirk gets hurt is a lot pricier than signing one of these guys today. Dalton and Winston both would've been upgrades over Mannion as well. I don't get it.

He's dealt with a lot of injuries over the past couple years and I think it's hard for teams to justify signing him without a thorough medical review. It was also a deep QB class in the draft and FA, so there were a lot of cheaper and lower risk options, so he just ended up being the odd man out. I think once a QB gets hurt, he'll be the first person teams call, but I would have expected him to sign before Winston did. Though it may be that he was holding out for a starting job & Winston was in a position where it made sense for him to be a backup for a year and then reenter FA next season. I think that Newton will be the first QB teams call when someone goes down and while his shoulder is a major concern, someone will give him a chance.

I guess I can't believe his name hasnt been linked to the Giants for a Dan Jones mentor. Sign Cam cheap, great backup with experience and definitely more reliable than Colt McCoy

@"greediron" said:

@"pattersaur" said:

*bump* Will never in 1000 years happen, but Winston and Dalton just signed for between $1-3M, respectively. Cam for 1 year/$2M (if he'd take it) is so much better than Mannion $1 year/$1M it's actually ridiculous. I like Spielman, and I'm on board for another year of Zimmer, but I will NEVER be okay with their handling of the backup QB position. The starting QB should not be coddled, he should pushed to be great. The successful teams around the league are realizing this. The Vikings unfortunately are not (yet). Hopefully Kirk stays healthy and you don't need him. But trading a pick for a QB in-season in the event Kirk gets hurt is a lot pricier than signing one of these guys today. Dalton and Winston both would've been upgrades over Mannion as well. I don't get it.

Except the offense would have to completely change.  The backup should be able to run the offense (less effectively of course) without major changes.

He doesn't want to play for backup money which is an issue.   Teams can't do an in person physical which is another, to see how he's progressed from the injuries.   And teams don't want celebrity backups, they want backups who are basically invisible in every way unless and until the starter goes down with an injury.   

Cam will probably have to wait for some team that thinks it's contending to lose a starter and feel their backup can't get them there so they will take a chance on him.  Otherwise I think he will have to leave football for a career as a hat salesman or something.

Several years ago I was watching a Panthers game, I believe it was against another NFC south team and before McCaffrey was there. Anyway, the Panthers were down by double digits late in the 4th and Cam was forced to pass to get them back in the game.

Cam to the Vikes?  Nah.  Let him back up Winston.

@"comet52" said: He doesn't want to play for backup money which is an issue.   Teams can't do an in person physical which is another, to see how he's progressed from the injuries.   And teams don't want celebrity backups, they want backups who are basically invisible in every way unless and until the starter goes down with an injury.   

Cam will probably have to wait for some team that thinks it's contending to lose a starter and feel their backup can't get them there so they will take a chance on him.  Otherwise I think he will have to leave football for a career as a hat salesman or something.

@"Ralphie" said: Several years ago I was watching a Panthers game, I believe it was against another NFC south team and before McCaffrey was there. Anyway, the Panthers were down by double digits late in the 4th and Cam was forced to pass to get them back in the game.

It was horrible.  He was under pressure and was doing his best McNabb impression....worm-burners after worm-burners....overthrows and QB scrambles.  It was painful to watch.

I know it's anecdotal but I saw clearly in that game what a running QB under pressure with mediocre passing skills would do.  

Cam to the Vikes?  Nah.  Let him back up Winston.

@"Ralphie" said: Several years ago I was watching a Panthers game, I believe it was against another NFC south team and before McCaffrey was there. Anyway, the Panthers were down by double digits late in the 4th and Cam was forced to pass to get them back in the game.

It was horrible.  He was under pressure and was doing his best McNabb impression....worm-burners after worm-burners....overthrows and QB scrambles.  It was painful to watch.

I know it's anecdotal but I saw clearly in that game what a running QB under pressure with mediocre passing skills would do.  

Cam to the Vikes?  Nah.  Let him back up Winston.

That is my take as well.  He is a beast and when his team is leading and has all the options available on offense, he can terrorize teams with his physical style.  But when he has to pass, he hasn't perfected his mechanics, his ability to read a D, the small details that separate the NFL QBs from those who don't make it. 

So yes, a larger, more imposing McNabb.  And like McNabb, the results were the same when they reached the superbowl.  Unlike the stars, what they left on the field wasn't their play, just chunks and business decisions.

I totally get what you all are saying, and this is all hypothetical anyways because the Vikings have proven to not have any interest in a good backup QB.
But how is saying "Cam is better when his team is ahead" a reason not to sign him? If anything, that would make him MORE of a fit in Minnesota since that's exactly how Zimmer wants to play. I guess that strategy may be out the window this year since we have so many new faces on defense, but most year's that would make Cam a fit here. Kirk himself isn't exactly known as being a 4th quarter hero, let alone Mannion.
All just fun discussion. I appreciate hearing everyone's viewpoints, even those of you who think I'm crazy!

well to be fair, I think any QB would likely be better when playing with a lead and having the whole playbook open.  My point was more of how different he was when he wasn't the "bully" running over people, but had to be a pocket QB.  But even with a lead, I don't see him as a good QB.  He likes to hold the ball and play the hero.  Look at one of Hunters best sacks, when he flattened the LT and sacked Cam for a safety.  Cam held that ball waaaay to long and in the endzone no less.  Hunter wasn't even rushing initially until he read it wasn't run, so it wasn't a speedy sack.

@"greediron" said: well to be fair, I think any QB would likely be better when playing with a lead and having the whole playbook open.  My point was more of how different he was when he wasn't the "bully" running over people, but had to be a pocket QB.  But even with a lead, I don't see him as a good QB.  He likes to hold the ball and play the hero.  Look at one of Hunters best sacks, when he flattened the LT and sacked Cam for a safety.  Cam held that ball waaaay to long and in the endzone no less.  Hunter wasn't even rushing initially until he read it wasn't run, so it wasn't a speedy sack.

Welp, guess he's good enough for Bill Belichek. But what does that guy know!

That should be interesting.

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has reached agreement on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the New England Patriots, league sources tell @mortreport and me.

Newton now will step into the mix to try to help replace former Patriots’ QB Tom Brady.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 28, 2020

@"Vikergirl" said: That should be interesting.

Let's see... a healthy Cam Newton or Jarrett Stidham?  At worst it couldn't hurt NE.  And in Carolina Cam certainly got used to throwing to crap WR.  Should feel like old times :p