SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On Tuesday I wrote a column mentioning how comfortable Cam Newton has always been in the spotlight, even amid adversity and criticism, and his ability to win games despite distractions. Here's a link to that column, in case you missed it.
Today, here's a different view of cam: The one who clearly is getting tired of asking the same questions in these press-conference-heavy days leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl. Newton, speaking in his third of four Super Bowl week news conferences Wednesday at Carolina's headquarters in San Jose, smiled and then sighed after being asked the cliche question of living out his childhood dream of being in the Super Bowl. It was only the fourth question of his session:
"You know what’s confusing? How can I reword questions I’ve been asked so many times? Golly. Nothing pretty much has changed since I’ve seen you guys 24 hours ago. I had an unbelievable sleep, but yet I’m up here again. It’s cool. It’s like, I don’t know how you want to say it. I sound like a broken record, but yet for a dream to play out as it has through the ups and downs, it just means the world for us to get what you prepare for. For us, the ultimate goal for this sport is to win a Super Bowl. You win national championships in college and doing that, but you try to get drafted to a team that’s going to put you in the right position to win a Super Bowl and now we have that opportunity, and it’s nothing different than any other game that we’ve played. The only thing that is different is everybody’s maximizing on the media, but yet it’s nothing different."
Here's a video clip of the beginning, via Kenny Ducey of Sports Illustrated:
For what it's worth: I'd be happy with one press conference, five days off and then go straight to the game. But I don't get a vote, and neither does Cam.
THE OTHER QB: Peyton Manning conceded Wednesday that he is an old and broken down man. Kinda, sorta.
In answering a question on the late Ken Stabler (who died of colon cancer in July) being diagnosed with brain disease (CTE), according to the New York Times, Manning disclosed that he will need hip replacement surgery after he retires.
"It is the first I have heard about that on Ken Stabler," Manning said. "All I can say about that is, Ken Stabler was a friend of my dad. I got to know him fairly well over the past years and the NFL quarterback fraternity lost a great one, lost a legend, when we lost ‘The Snake.’ I reached out to his family and told them they were in my thoughts and prayers. That is my reaction to that. ... Certainly when you have injuries, when you have surgeries, the doctor sometimes will mention to you, whether you ask him or not, ‘Hey you are probably heading for a hip replacement at a certain time in your life.’ I said ‘Doc, I didn’t ask you if I was going to have a hip replacement. I didn’t need to know that right here at age 37, but thanks for sharing. I look forward to that day when I am 52 and have a hip replacement.’ Am I going to have some potential neck procedures down the road? I don’t know the answer to that. The hip part was true. I can’t remember which doctor told me that. I have seen a lot of doctors. He was nice enough to share that information with me."
On MyAJC: Ex-Falcons coach Wade Phillips back on top at age 68 with Denver's defense
Recent ramblings from the Digital Jukebox
- SUPER BOWL: Ex-Falcons coach Wade Phillips back on top at 68
- SUPER BOWL: Love him or hate him, Cam Newton has gift: winning amid storm
- SUPER BOWL: Carolina gets tip on Super Bowl week -- from Eugene Robinson
- SUPER BOWL: Super Bowl Digi-Blog: Peyton Manning, Cam Newton and Me vs. Puppet
- SUPER BOWL: There's no reason for Manning to worry about his legacy
- 'How They Really Stand' in Atlanta sports (2016 edition)
- 3 teams, 3 questions: Quinn could be on hook as much as Dimitroff in '16
- Falcons' Dimitroff jumps on the grenade (smart guy)
- Falcons hire two former general managers -- and that makes five
- Four-point analysis: Falcons are a ways behind Carolina
- Braves' starting rotation ranked 30th (and it's hard to dispute)
- SUPER BOWL: About Atlanta's hate for Cam Newton and the Panthers ...
- NFL's Final Four all have something Falcons don't
- Mike Smith says he's 'recharged," avoids references to Falcons
- Braves' free-agent interest has its limits
- This comes as no surprise: Braves not spending in free agency
- (Full column) There's a limit to Braves' interest in free agents
- Mike Smith joins Dirk Koetter in Tampa; Is Roddy White next?
- St. Louis Rams fans: You will get no sympathy here
- Coppolella wants to know what's on minds of Braves' fans (oops)
- What are Georgia's and Tech's national title odds? Glad you asked
- Can one upset be start of something for Tech, Gregory?
- OK, that's enough time: Looking ahead to 2016 college football season
- Hawks finally look like team they need to be
