Cam Newton A Long Way From Great

There are so many narratives to discuss post Superbowl 50. There's the obvious: Peyton Manning getting a deserved fairytale ending to a storybook career. Then there's the Broncos defence, which was out-worldly and makes one wonder how Wade Phillips was unemployed for even a day. Then of course there's Von Miller, the 2nd overall pick of the 2011 draft (2nd behind Cam Newton) putting on a clinic while terrorizing Newton and likely appearing in his nightmares for weeks to come.

Less obvious is the fact that most picked the Panthers to win and deferred to the truest cliche in sports when they realized they were wrong: "defence wins championships." This Lady called a Broncos win long ago, but that's besides the point. Perhaps the most enticing storyline is the NFL's MVP looking beatable and shaken, and like he's got a long way to go before he becomes great. After all, the great ones don't sulk.

You can't ignore the fairytale of Peyton Manning in this game. His entire playoff run was magical and unlikely. He beat his old AFC foes in Roethlisberger and Brady. Then he beat the current MVP and QB that represents a new type pivot in the league in Newton, a pass and a run threat, able to beat you with air precision and his legs. But the juxtaposition of Manning and Newton became even more glaringly obvious after the game was over, when Cam Newton came strutting out with his hood up, sulked through his press conference barely answering questions, and then abruptly walked off like a child throwing a tantrum. The NFL may have a race problem, but Cam Newton is not a victim of it as he claims: he's a victim of his own immaturity and inability to endure adversity. He's a victim of his attitude and poor leadership. Quite simply, he's a victim of himself.

Russell Wilson is an elite quarterback, probably the best of his draft class that includes RGIII and Andrew Luck. He threw a pick at last years Superbowl that cost his team the championship. He didn't sulk through his post game press conference. He took a shower, got dressed and answered the bell. It's part of being a pro and part of making millions of dollars. Okay okay, Cam Newton had to listen to Chris Harris Jr behind him talking about "loading up the box", but had Cam been listening to the questions being posed and answering them earnestly, as a pro should, he probably wouldn't have been paying attention to Chris Harris Jr. behind him.

Now there's been lots to talk about Cam Newton this season. He has had a breakout season and his numbers are MVP worthy. So then why is he so polarizing? Why do some people proclaim him as the future of the NFL while others scold him as what's wrong with the NFL. According to Cam it's a race thing. Well from way up here in Canada, it seems to have nothing to do with race and everything to do with Cam himself. No one likes a showboat. No one likes the kid in the class who jumps up and down saying "me, me, me, me, me." No one likes tiger print pants or personalized shoes with 'MVP' written on them, and absolutely no one likes a pouter. Don't collapse on the sidelines because a play didn't work out. Don't pout on the bench with a towel over your head because your defence took a penalty. You're the quarterback. You're the leader. You're the example, and the example your setting is an awful one.

Russell Wilson isn't very polarizing. He's just really really good, and everyone agrees. The Seattle Seahawks are officially his team, and no one in Seattle is 'polarized' over this. He's a team guy. Russell Wilson thanks God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit before he even acknowledges that he took a snap. Maybe the team first narrative is old and overdone, but it's old and overdone for a reason. Team sports are won and lost by a group of people, not individuals. That's why the narrative is old and overdone. A great player is more than just a sum of his or her play. A great player is a sum of his or her team and they acknowledge it.

Whether it's celebrating yourself too much, or consoling yourself too much, it's too much individuality in a conformist atmosphere. A team requires you to conform. After all, you put on the same jersey as every other member of the Carolina Panthers, Cam. Your teammates are disappointed too. You want to be seen as great? Take a lesson from the greats. Man up. Answer the questions, congratulate your opponent and go to the locker room to lick your wounds like a pro. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, none of them sulked. Not one. And they are great.

The Quarterback is the leader and the face of the team. They take the fall and they get the glory. Cam, you certainly know how to get the glory. If you want to be great, learn how to fall.