FLOWERY BRANCH – Carolina quarterback Cam Newton spoke to the Charlotte media during his weekly availability session.
The former Heisman Trophy winner from Westlake High addressed the anniversary of his car accident, trying to get a bye for the playoffs and his love of the Atlanta Falcons and how he likes playing against them.
Here’s what the affable Newton had to say:
Q: Can you talk about what you’ve been through and how (the car crash) changed you?
A: "I've been through so much in my life to not just dwell on this one incident and that to be the turning point of my life. It's a constant reminder. I got a couple of text from close friends and family, just a reminder to never take (anything) for granted. Just a simple I love you. A simple appreciation to the next person. That goes a long way. That's the only thing that I really probably would have regretted. Just the fact that people who I care about from friends, to teammates and family, I just never got a good farewell. We never know the day, we never know the hour, or the minute that it's going to be our last hooray. So, while you have an opportunity to do something, please do it. We know that sports does a lot. It gives me that (platform) to be able to say that to the masses.
Q: Do you have on the (commemorative) bracelet?
A: "I don't (have it on today). I don't wear it to practice because it is uncomfortable. I just sent it off yesterday to get in a new inscription on it. What's on it, I probably post it. I wore it the post-game. It's something that's subtle and a constant reminder. On it, it says 'Never forget your journey. So often, it's just like a humbling reminder. My Pops (Cecil) always said that one day you could be on top of the world and the next day the world can be on top of you so you try to take it like a grain of salt."
Q: To get the bye in the playoffs, how much would that mean if you all beat the Falcons?
A: "We are not thinking ahead. Our main focus is the Atlanta Falcons and trying to become 13-0 by any means necessary. We know this is a great team. At one, they were undefeated….They just dropped the ball in some instances in some close games. It could have very well went either way. We are not letting their record dictate our performance and how we prepare for those guys because they are a great team. They have a lot of great talent on that team. I know we have to be prepared for them."
Q: Where’s your Heisman?
A: "It's in Atlanta."
Q: Do you have any stories about it? About people wanting to touch it and all?
A: "No, but it's in my residence in Atlanta. It's just breathtaking to me. Just to know that I won a Heisman Trophy. The most prestigious award you can ever win in college football. I've seen the finalists have an opportunity to change their lives forever. You're automatically a legend when you win the Heisman Trophy by default. …It's just great to be a part of it."
Q: What’s been the difference in the red zone this year?
A: "Great focus. Great team ball. Guys bringing their professionalism each and every day and just carrying over to game day."
Q: Are you all expecting any added intensity because they are a desperate team?
A: "We are a desperate team, too. We're desperate for a win, each and every week. We've always said 'let's find a way to be 1-0 at the end of Sunday or Monday or Thursday, whenever we play. For us, it just been that same outlook each and every week and that's what got us to this point. We haven't been looking back nor have we been looking ahead. We've just been having all of our energy and focus on this specific team. This week's team is the Atlanta Falcons."
Q: But you like playing these guys. Isn’t there a little something extra?
A: "Oh yeah. It's the home-team. I grew up watching this team. I don't need anything to get me going (other than) the love for the game. But I kind of get excited when I play Atlanta."
Q: Do you look forward to when you retire to go and be a part of the (Heisman) ceremony?
A: "To a degree. I may watch it this year…because of DeShaun (Watson)."
Q: How has your leadership style changed?
A: "This is the same person that people critiqued and analyzed when I first came into this league and I used to sulk under the towel. I hate to lose. I did that wrong, but I'm the same person. Nothing has pretty much changed. It's just that we are winning. I'll say it often and I'll say it again, winning sweeps a lot of things under the table that are unacceptable. It puts makeup on a lot of blemishes. If I were doing some of the things that I'm doing now and we were losing, people would find something. People would say, 'Cam is not doing this. Or, this particular quarterback is doing that.' It's just the fact that our record is flawless right now…I haven't changed. The people in that locker room know I haven't change. The people upstairs know I haven't changed. Just guys growing up, seeing more football and understanding what to do in different circumstances. That's just overall growth."
Q: (Not audible. Something about the Falcons.)
A: "It's the hometown. It's something that I've been watching since I first started playing the game at the age of 7. On Sundays, I would come home from church and the Atlanta Falcon would be on dating back to Chris Chandler, Michael Vick and I saw the early games of Matt Ryan. You know what I'm saying. That was my team by default. So, for me to have the opportunity to play in Atlanta at least once a year (there) is always something added there. It's a league-wide things. For a person to be able to play his hometown team or play (with his) hometown team… Ask Lebron. It just feel good to be able to go back to your hometown and play. It's like a dream come true."
Q: What has (wide receiver) Jerricho Cotchery meant to this team?
A: "I call him Uncle Jerricho Cotchery. He's just a clutch guy. As a matter of fact, it's just his spirit. He's a guy that doesn't shy away from being a God-fearing man. That's what you have got to respect in this league. He's a person that you have so much respect for. …playing this game you kind of say a lot of bad words, but when talking to Cotch you just want to say it a certain way, but you can't say it because you know who he is. It's like that Dad. He brings that fun loving approach to the game. We know that. He's a guy that keeps everybody steered right. He doesn't really, rarely raises his voice. He's the guy in the meetings who's never dozing off the sleep. He's taking notes. He just does everything right. He doesn't have that I'm holier than thou approach. He's easy to talk to and he has a fun loving spirit…He's been in this league for a long time. He knows and has seen a lot of football. It doesn't make me thing twice when I'm looking to him in my reads to give him an opportunity because I know he lives for those type of opportunities."
Q: After his game-winning touchdown, he just threw the ball and walked off. What did you think of his celebration?
A: "Well, he gave me the ball. Obviously, I think he might not know how to do a touchdown celebration. Hell, I don't even know how to do a touchdown celebration if I let you guys tell it. It is what it is."
Q: Has Dan Quinn brought a lot of his scheme and things over from Seattle?
A: "Yeah, you see it. It's that mentality … just seeing him develop this team from week one to the week that we are in right now, they are a more fiery, chippy team. Now, you see a lot of similarities from the Seattle Seahawks to the Atlanta Falcons in what they do. Somethings they do better. Somethings they don't. But they are a defense that can and will dictate the game if you let them. Just like a lot of teams we've played. But yet, we have to stick to our guns and do the things that have gotten us to this point."
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