May 18, 2013

The Browns Set to Work Out Cam Newton

March 10, 2011 by 31 Comments

Just in case you were hoping to avoid even the hint of a quarterback controversy in Cleveland for a minute, I am sure the Internet will light up very soon.  Adam Caplan is reporting that the Cleveland Browns are one of eight teams set to work out the athletic freak from Auburn, Cam Newton.  Additionally, Caplan reports that the Browns had a strong contingent at Newton’s pro day on Tuesday including Tom Heckert, Gil Haskell, Pat Shurmur and QB coach Mark Whipple, among others.  It seems like the only one who wasn’t there was Mike Holmgren himself.  So, what gives?

When the Browns are deficient at so many positions like wide receiver and defensive line, why would they spend time with Cam Newton?  Obviously, nobody outside of Berea knows for sure, but let’s explore a couple possibilities.

The Browns Are Preparing to Take Cam Newton – Well, the most obvious answer might be that the Browns want to see if they want to take Cam Newton in the draft.  The Browns have expressed confidence in Colt McCoy, but anyone who considers him a sure thing is guessing.  Just because the Browns are taking time to explore Cam Newton doesn’t mean they don’t like Colt McCoy.  It could just mean that they aren’t prepared to let a once-in-a-generation quarterback pass them by – should they decide Newton is that guy – because they were somewhat impressed by a third rounder who played part of his rookie season.

I’m not saying Colt McCoy isn’t the guy or that Cam Newton is.  I am not sure that Cam Newton even fits the bill for the West Coast offense that the Browns are embracing.  That being said, if Cam Newton is thought to be the next great NFL QB, I sure hope the Browns don’t let him pass by because they would rather fill a more pressing need.  You can’t time these things.

Positioning to Trade Down –  Let’s say the Browns do their homework on Cam Newton and they decide like Mark Sanchez, they would rather trade out of the slot and get more picks.  Even if everyone thinks the Browns have no interest in a QB with the sixth pick in the NFL draft, they could create a bit of doubt just by doing their due diligence on Cam Newton.  Many teams espouse to take the very best football players they can in the draft regardless of position.  The Browns might use this to increase their bargaining power in a trade scenario should Cam Newton still be available when the Browns are on the clock.

In the end, I don’t really think the Browns have much interest in taking Cam Newton with their pick.  At the same time, I am happy the Browns aren’t eliminating the possibility of taking him because they kind of like Colt McCoy so far.  I actually caught Cam Newton’s combine passing drills and he certainly has impressive skills.  He is a giant at 6’5″ and nearly 250 pounds.  He has a cannon for an arm and he can run like crazy.  He only has one real year of college experience, but it was one heck of a year as he won the Heisman and led the Auburn Tigers to a BCS National Championship.

I hope the Browns find that Cam Newton – while talented – isn’t a worthy candidate for quarterback of the future.  I expect the Browns to take the very best difference-making football player available when they are on the clock.  It would certainly be much cleaner for them (and Browns fans) if that happened to be a defensive lineman or even a wide receiver.

For now, I wouldn’t think too much of the Browns working out Cam Newton.  If anything just be happy the Browns are doing lots of homework for the draft.  I am encouraged to know that Heckert, Shurmur, Haskell and others are all out there working on it together.

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  • http://twitter.com/lilOUmikey lilOUmikey

    *sniff sniff* I smell smoke!

  • Nobody

    Am I the only one who feels that we should draft cam newton just for a legit wildcat threat. I know there’s cribbs and wallace, but neither of those two are good long term for that formation…and we’ll have decent tradable assets for a decent lineman.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Craig Lyndall

    I don’t think coach Pat Shurmur plans on carrying the wildcat forward.

  • Mark

    The Browns are just being diligent about their options. I’d be beyond shocked if they drafted him.

    Is there a cap as to how many players a team can bring in for an individual workout? If not, what’s to stop a team from working out every potential pick for the first 3 rounds?

  • Nullster

    I have no problem with this so long as it’s either a) doing due diligence or b) attempting other to trade up. If they are thinking about drafting another quarterback with the other holes we have on this team it’s going to be another long 2.5 years until the next rebuild.

  • stin4u

    @2 – The wildcat formation is dying. It’s run it’s course and with so many other needs it’s like saying hey lets draft a guy just for punt returns with a top ten pick.

    I think as suggested above this is more about generating the illusion they may actually pick him. If he falls to six he becomes a huge bargaining chip.

  • http://gooddoctorzeus.blogspot.com DocZeus

    I hate this and the fact they are considering it continues to make cynical about this regime. Just make the safe pick and stop trying to outsmart the rest of the league.

  • Clown Baby

    /Looks out window

    Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’d take a “Scouting” trip to Alabama about now.

  • Harv 21

    Here’s another variation on why: every year a guy expected to go high drops like a rock, due to whispered character issues, or whatever. Let’s say we get our defensive stud and shockingly Newton’s still there at, say, #23, all the cameras are on him sweating. The team now on the board has already obtained a first rounder through a separate trade.

    Holmgren can grab Newton there by giving that team our second rounder this year plus a high pick next, maybe our ’12 second rounder. Do you do it?

  • NJ

    I’d like to say the Browns aren’t interested and they’re just doing their due dilligence, but I said the exact same thing about the Shurmur interview.

    I have officially given up on understanding this franchise. Sit back, enjoy the ride.

  • saggy

    i am sticking to my original guns here and saying to draft Peterson. BUT – I’d take Cam Newton, too. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent.

  • B-bo

    It stuns me that anyone would take this an a sign that the Browns are genuinely interested in Newton. This is all about getting in other teams heads (Cincinnati, for one) who might actually want/need him. Right now, Cincy is thinking that they might have to grab him at 4 if they really want him, or else he might not be there to trade back for. Teams near the back end who might be looking at him as a developmental guy will have to look into moving up. It’s mind games and leverage (which sounds like a Tuesday night lineup on TNT), nothing more.

    @Harv: in a word, no. I just don’t find the kid impressive enough, particularly at the cost you propose in your hypothetical.

  • REEPJP

    @Harv…eerily similar to the BQ situation…so NO! Unless of course you can guarantee me we can trade him for a low mileage 1,000 yd running back/rhino in 3 years…

    Also, about Cam Newton, his story reminds me of another first round QB the Browns considered at one point…Akili Smith. Juco and then only a small number of games to prove himself at the college level. Everyone thought he was going to be great and he turned out to be a dud.

  • eldaveablo

    Due diligence is what good organizations do. Someday the Browns will be able to do something as obvious as workout a QB prospect without everyone freaking out, right?

  • eldaveablo

    @ Harv

    I don’t do it. I won’t even mention his name, but the last time the Browns did that, it didn’t work out so well.

  • Nate_3

    I don’t think this is a very big deal. They should be looking at as many players as possible. If Cam looks amazing then they’ll draft him. If he looks mediocre then they won’t draft him. Pretty simple strategy.

  • bobby

    I really dont like the kid and I dont think he will be good. The 1 thing you can say hes a winner (juco and NCAA national champion) but I would much rather take my chances on a winner with McCoy or Tebow (and I cannot stand Tebow). I think picking a QB in the first round is the one thing that I will be deeply upset about if thebrowns do so.

  • bobby

    If he looks amazing hes gone at #1 anyways. If hes not good enough to go to Car, or Buf, or Cincy (assuming Carson is actually out) then hes not good enough to go ahead of Colt.

  • jimkanicki

    i remain enchanted with the prospect of swapping our 6 and 37 for new englands 17, 28 and 33 (and perhaps more).

    thus, maintaining the appearance of being focused on our #6 is important. so go ahead and workout newton, vonmiller, gabbert and any other talent that seems to be coveted by other teams.

  • Harv 21

    BTW, I don’t do that hypothetical deal, either. Picking the “physical freak” thing at QB has been so tempting over the years, with so many wash-outs or guys who took years just to get a handle on the position: Randall Cunningham, Michael Vick, Akili, Culpepper… none have been able to become great since Elway and Steve Young. To me, if you can make the basic throws and are somewhat mobile, most important thing for a QB is what’s between the ears, where to throw and when to throw it.

    I agree this is for show and, anyway, Holmgren seems to just like evaluating QBs. Quarterbacks end up on the waiver wire one day, some sooner than others. You never know.

  • ben

    Non-story since they *have* to do it. Evaluating Newton is the responsible move to make.

    I, like pretty much everyone else in the comment section, highly doubt the Browns will draft him, even if he is available when they call our name.

  • bobby

    Jim- What in Bill Belichick/ the NE’s draft history makes you think they would trade up to the #6… and for who? Not trying to call you out or anything, but I find that a very uncharacteristic hope you have.

  • B-bo

    @jimkanicki that’s reasonably close value-wise, according to the magical draft pick value chart so many teams go by. Mighty tempting…

  • jimkanicki

    @22 — there has been sportstalkradio buzz here in boston that the pats might move up for von miller. i dont know how you go wrong with data like that.

    @23 — wasnt quite sure how that mapped to the VALUE CHART. but i do know that picking up 3 starters is better than picking up 2 with as many holes as we have.

    oh, and dont forget: JUSTIN BOREN IN ROUND SIX PLEASE.

  • S-Dub

    While it may be true that it was Cam’s Pro Day, guys like Nick Fairley, The RB Fannin who had a very nice combine, and one of their WR’s whose a possible 3rd round pick were also working out. So yes, the Browns should look at Newton, just like they’re looking at other C’s, LT’s, LG’s, TE’s and RB’s; I’m sure they were also checking out a few other guys. Hopefully Fairley

  • bobby

    Ok, well I certainly stand corrected, thank you sir. According to all of those draft pundits thus far Von Miller is taken be Arizona though, and unfortunately maybe they make that trade. Would be a heckava deal though. Definitely could grab 2 DEs and possibly Julio.

  • S-Dub

    @jimkanicki: I asked LeCharles about Boren. He said he’s VERY average because of how stiff he is. He’d get eaten up in the NFL. He said Boren is one of the best at tOSU in a while, but it isn’t saying much. Every draft site I’ve seen has Browning rated higher than Boren as a G. Draftcountdown.com is my fav site.

  • jimkanicki

    i respect and like lecharles so i wouldnt try to dispute his thinking.

    my thinking is simply this: boren seems like he’s doing something good in every highlight film i see. he seems like a FOOTBAWWW player and thats hard to quantify. (tank carder -2012 draft- from TCU is another one like that.)

    if he’s there in rd 6, what the hell, why not take a shot on him.

  • mydogsnameisbuckeye

    I say they’re doing it just to do exactly as #1 said… They’re blowing smoke up everyone’s backsides. Perhaps they just want to scare the other teams? Or, get more of an idea who this guy is, in case he is the guy you’re playing against for the next several years in your division (Cinci). Last time you’ll see him do anything before the season (whenever it) starts. Sounds like good scouting to me.

  • MattyFos

    H&H like their dual threat QBs…

  • http://wastedbabes2454.maddawgzonhogs.com Sammie Brown

    I am a devoted Cincinnati Bengals fan.I’m hoping Cam Newton can be chosen in our 4th spot in order that the Bengals can get someone else to replace Palmer, considering that he is going to retire.