Scouting is nothing new to the NFL and the process is long, hard and there remains no real blue print.  There is no exact science when drafting players, there is no way to determine how good a player will be.  Some organizations put a lot of stock into a player’s “character” or lack thereof, some don’t… Some would rather choose players mostly off of their measurable.

I don’t know exactly what works and I would hate to be in that position.  Ok on second thought, I would love to be in that position.  I mean really, I can’t be any worst than Mel Kiper who makes his career off the talent of others.

Was I wrong to say that? Maybe but let’s move on.

This brings me to exactly what I had in mind when deciding to write this; the idea of quarterbacks but mainly two quarterbacks who baffle me somewhat because I’m just not sure about them.

I never thought highly of JaMarcus Russell… ok not entirely true, I was curious as to what he would bring, but that same thing that happens every year during the draft process happened. Character issues started to float around and not necessarily about him being a bad guy, but stories about work ethic and wait issues.

Now that wouldn’t be enough to scare me from a guy especially a 6’5” strong thrower with a real cannon for an arm but the fact that the raiders had that number one pick didn’t help my confidence in his development.  It didn’t start out so bad and he managed a very good year for a quarterback his second year In the NFL but that was where it ended.

It’s been 3 years and we all know what happened… As of right now JaMarcus Russell is nowhere to see seen and might one day might hold a clipboard somewhere but it may be too soon to tell.

When I see Cam Newton, for some reason I think JaMarcus Russell… Yeah I know what you are thinking; their nothing alike and he has the work ethic that JaMarcus Lacked.

Yes your right about that, I believe the Cam works hard but that is not where my issues with him lie.

Cam was a special player in college, but let’s not get blinded by the glare from his Heisman trophy.

The guy has had his issues as well, no not the fact that he may have taken money to play at Auburn.  To be honest with you I can care less about that. But the laptop is a legitimate concern to rise because it speaks to his maturity as well.

There is a level of arrogance with Cam that is alarming, as a signal caller it is impossible to be great leader and successful without confidence, but his comments don’t inspire such confidence; especially from someone who has yet to achieve anything in this league.  Like Russell, Cam lacks the maturity to be responsible and treat this new chapter in his life as a job.

As he said himself, he wants to be an “icon,” I hate to say this because I can’t stand the guy but you would never hear Tom Brady say anything like that especially before ever completing a pass.

The Raiders never learned from their mistakes in terms of draft picks but you would think that the rest of the league would learn from them.

Athletes will only get you so far if the mental aspect of the game is absent.

I may be wrong but I don’t think Cam gets it, at least not at this stage in his career.  I’ve heard many people say that Carolina had no choice, if they pass up on Cam Newton and he becomes what everyone thinks he will then a lot of people would lose their jobs.

To that I say, how many people you think lost their jobs in the NFL because of the decisions to draft JaMarcus or any other bust at quarterback.

Black Russian Studio / Shutterstock.com

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About the author

Clodel Remy
Writing and sports are my passions and i can't see myself doing anything else.

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