Moon angry over perceived racial bias toward Newton (1 Viewer)

[Phlash]

The words of Warren Moon carry tremendous weight. He's one of professional football's historic figures, both for his tremendous skill and his relevance as an African-American thrower.So when Moon speaks about quarterback Cam Newton people should listen. When Moon says what he did during an extensive conversation with CBSSports.com about Newton and race, more than a few will.Moon is Newton's adviser and prepared Newton for his combine workout in February. Since then, Moon has stayed in constant contact with Newton via text message and telephone conversations.Moon was extremely angry over what he perceives as racially biased treatment of Newton by media and fans and was impassioned in his defense of Newton."A lot of the criticism he's receiving is unfortunate and racially based," Moon said. "I thought we were all past this. I don't see other quarterbacks in the draft being criticized by the media or fans about their smile or called a phony. He's being held to different standards from white quarterbacks. I thought we were past all this stuff about African-American quarterbacks, but I guess we're not."Of course there is racism in every walk of society. We've made a lot of progress in this country. But racism is still there. I just thought in the sports arena we were beyond it. I think the way Cam is being treated shows we're not."Moon added: "The thing that makes me laugh is the question of can he [Newton] come out of the spread offense? Can he run a pro offense? Colt McCoy came out of the spread offense and very few people raised that issue about him. So did Sam Bradford. Same thing. Very few questions asking if Bradford could run a pro offense. Some of these questions about Cam are more about his intellect. It's blatant racism, some of it."When I played I fought some of this. Guys like myself and Randall Cunningham, we were playing for a bigger calling. We were playing for guys like Cam and others. It's disappointing to see some of this stuff still exists."There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.Moon is most troubled by the notion -- a notion that continues to grow -- that Newton is something he's not. To Moon, it's contrary to the Newton he knows."You can't be fake and win a national championship," Moon said. "The players will see through it. He's won at every level. He took that Auburn team to the national title and that team wasn't as talented as some other teams in the SEC."Just turn on the film and watch what he does on game day. Then if you have concerns just spend time with him. Go around the kid himself. Spend as much time as you need around him. You can only fake so much."Some of you will hate what Moon says. Some will nod their head in agreement. What's clear is that Moon has the courage to discuss Newton in such honest terms.Moon's words carry weight and they just started an interesting conversation.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14879833/moon-angry-over-perceived-racial-bias-toward-newtonFrom my perspective, this just comes off as someone trying to hide the flaws of a person who really is flawed. Matt Leinart was to be drafted #1 overall and dropped a bit even though he too was a Heisman Winner and National Champion, and it looks like the questions that he was a partier and lackadaisical were correct. He even gave evidence to the counterpoint by bringing up Jamarcus Russell (#1 overall, massive bust because of laziness) and STILL claimed it was racism based. Does anyone NOT think that Jeremy Stevens is a terrible person because he's white? No, we think he's a terrible person because of the way he treats women.Look, everyone knows about the Cam Newton incidents involving him stealing a fellow students laptop and destroying it to cover up his tracks and how he tried to get under the table payment on top of his scholarship. He has shown a lack of respect for authority and has appeared pompous to the people who've interviewed him. This is a raw prospect who is going to need to be coached up to succeed in the NFL. Vince Young is the best comparison I can think of - extremely great athlete, very good college QB, great runner, tall, strong, but his mind has held him back from living up to his draft status. This will be the fate of Cam Newton if people like Warren Moon try to protect him from the "racists" on the outside who are actually just judging him as a prospect. There is too much money involved with the NFL for them to be racist these days - teams need the top players and top coaches if they want to succeed and win.

 

[shader]

Newton stole laptops and Newton's dad shopped him around for money. He brought it on himself. He's still going to get picked really high in the draft, so why is moon complaining?

Mallett is getting knocked way down in the draft due to a bunch of rumors about his personal life, Warren.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

 

[VTjkru]

Im pretty liberal and tend to see both sides of the coin but Warren Moon is completely out of line here. Really? Very few were concerned about McCoy and Bradford being able to run a pro offense after playing in a spread? Really?! Moon must think that we dont live in a world where it takes someone five seconds on Google to show that isnt true.

And even if he did want to make the comparison between Cam and those guys, let me ask him, what negative baggage came out about McCoy or Bradford throughout their college career? What about them could someone point to and say: maybe this guy doesnt have his head screwed on straight?

 

[SpineDoc]

Never liked Moon personally. Didn't he beat his wife?

 

[Jason Wood]

Moon was a great QB, but I'm not sure there's much evidence he was a great man, nor a great judge of character.

 

[RUSF18]

Moon was a great QB, but I'm not sure there's much evidence he was a great man, nor a great judge of character.

Sounds like the exact type of guy that the Newtons would pick to be their advisor.

 

[lynx4ben]

Moon was a great QB, but I'm not sure there's much evidence he was a great man, nor a great judge of character.

Sounds like the exact type of guy that the Newtons would pick to be their advisor.

I love when people go on rants thinking they are helping a player. Hey Warren get a clue! In todays world complaining that a top 10 selection is being held back by racisim only generates bad publicity not good. Shut your mouth!

 

[Da Guru]

Mike Freeman wrote the article. Nuff said..

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Mallett is getting knocked way down in the draft due to a bunch of rumors about his personal life, Warren.

This was the first thing I thought of.In fact Rotoworld in it's news section posted a snippet about a rumor that a player failed his drug test at the combine under a "Ryan Mallet" banner, but pointed out that Mallet "is not known to be the culprit".

Ryan Mallett - QB - Player Profootballtalk.com reports that at least one "good" NFL prospect failed a drug test at last month's Scouting Combine.

We did this post under Ryan Mallett, but he is not known to be the culprit. League policy dictates that failed Combine drug tests not be made public, although they often leak out. This year's prospect reportedly failed his urine test in Indy. Two years ago, former USC LB Brian Cushing was accused of testing positive. He was later suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league's policy against steroids and banned substances. Source: Profootballtalk on NBC Sports Mar 30, 4:26 PM

So is "linking" Mallet to this rumor a racial thing?

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

I always thought the McNabb (one of the most overrated QB's in NFL history) comparison was spot on.

McNabb is the fakest mother ####er you'll ever meet. But keep that fake smile up for the camera Don.

You don't see a whole lot of people going to bat for Cam after that 'fake person' comment that came out from PFW (outside of his handlers and fellow black QB's)

I don't see Newton falling far in the draft however. Someone like the Bills are desperate enough to take the shot.

Warren Moon is still alive? Stopped reading after "The words of Warren Moon carry tremendous weight".

 

[JamesTheScot]

Moon added: "The thing that makes me laugh is the question of can he [Newton] come out of the spread offense? Can he run a pro offense? Colt McCoy came out of the spread offense and very few people raised that issue about him. So did Sam Bradford. Same thing. Very few questions asking if Bradford could run a pro offense. Some of these questions about Cam are more about his intellect. It's blatant racism, some of it.

Really, Warren?From Pro Football Weekly's 2010 Draft Guide:

"Downside: ...Has played in a spread offense, operating heavily out of the shotgun, and could require considerable time to adapt to making whole field reads while moving in reverse from under the center."

From Sporting News's Draft 2010:

"Bottom Line: ...The bigger question, though, is how well he'll adjust to lining up under center to play in a traditional NFL offense."

From Lindy's Pro Football Draft:

"Reading Defenses: Able to go through progressions or looks off safety when in the pocket, but often hit the primary read or quick screen in Oklahoma's spread offense."

No, Warren. No one ever considered Bradford's time in the spread as a concern.

Idiot.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

i have no idea and maybe he does...but does Moon mentor any white QB's....?...

 

[JamesTheScot]

Moon was extremely angry over what he perceives as racially biased treatment of Newton by media and fans and was impassioned in his defense of Newton....Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

So Moon is angry, not because NFL teams are discrimianting against Newton, he admits they aren't, but because he thinks the media and fans are racist.So, in other words, this racism will have no effect on Cam Newton's draft stock.Gotcha, Warren. Any other non-issues you want to get indignant about?

 

[DeCleater]

So if Cam isn't the #1 pick are you going to sue the NFL?

Maybe you should look to JaMarcus Russell as the reason NFL scouts are leery.

Besides, according to AP he is about to get bonded into slavery, why would anyone want that?

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Oh great, the race card again.

 

[GridironMenace]

Screw Moon. These race hustlers never stop.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

He is a crook in a family of crooks.

Yep, they made me biased against him.

 

[daveR]

Of course Moon's right. The racists of the world didn't disappear overnight, be they NFL fans (but not front-office people) or media types. It happens. Period.

On the other hand, whining about it doesn't change it. The people who are racists aren't going to change. Fortunately, they don't matter anyway.

 

[Donnybrook]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

 

[Sweet Love]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

I agree with you on this point, but playing devil's advocate, is there a white QB they can compare him to? Not Matt Jones, Eric Crouch or Scott McGraw (forget his name, but the white QB from Nebraska who played DB for the Jets for a year or so)...the last three most athletic white QBs did not get an opportunity to try to play QB, as they were converted to other positions, no questions asked. It really goes both ways (see Armanti Edwards), but in the end, if you are going to be an "athletic QB", you better show some of the off-field and on-field sense that the traditional QBs show. Bottom line is this: If a possible top 3 choice is already drawing this much criticism, you better pass on him. Even Leaf made it through this far...

 

[Dr. Octopus]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

I agree with you on this point, but playing devil's advocate, is there a white QB they can compare him to? Not Matt Jones, Eric Crouch or Scott McGraw (forget his name, but the white QB from Nebraska who played DB for the Jets for a year or so)...

Scott Frost.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

All Kiper said was that Newton only had one year of top level production "like Akili Smith" and the headlines ran with "Kiper compares Newton to Smith".

 

[domvin]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success.

"One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

I agree with you on this point, but playing devil's advocate, is there a white QB they can compare him to? Not Matt Jones, Eric Crouch or Scott McGraw (forget his name, but the white QB from Nebraska who played DB for the Jets for a year or so)...the last three most athletic white QBs did not get an opportunity to try to play QB, as they were converted to other positions, no questions asked. It really goes both ways (see Armanti Edwards), but in the end, if you are going to be an "athletic QB", you better show some of the off-field and on-field sense that the traditional QBs show. Bottom line is this: If a possible top 3 choice is already drawing this much criticism, you better pass on him. Even Leaf made it through this far...

I've read several comparisons of newton to freeman and rothlisberger.

The moon is made of whine and cheese.....

 

[Donnybrook]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

I agree with you on this point, but playing devil's advocate, is there a white QB they can compare him to?

I don't know but it seems to me the other QBs in this draft aren't drawing the same negative comparison. You don't have people constantly comparing Gabbert to Alex Smith. You do not have people constantly comparing Locker to Drew Stanton. These comparison are probably just as close.

 

[Donnybrook]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

All Kiper said was that Newton only had one year of top level production "like Akili Smith" and the headlines ran with "Kiper compares Newton to Smith".

But Kiper could have said like Mark Sanchez.

 

[RBM]

Moon was a great QB, but I'm not sure there's much evidence he was a great man, nor a great judge of character.

Easy on the use of "great"

 

[Dr. Octopus]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

All Kiper said was that Newton only had one year of top level production "like Akili Smith" and the headlines ran with "Kiper compares Newton to Smith".

But Kiper could have said like Mark Sanchez.

That's a valid point.

 

[Shutout]

I like Moon as a player but I think he is off base here.

He is Newton' advisor so he has built in bias; regardless of how much he would like to separate that.

I think Kiper was making an Akili Smith comparison (vs a Sanchez or other player) because of great one year numbers posted, IIRC.

I WANT to see both sides of this and give validity to it because it does seem like everytime you see an athletic African American QB come out, the comparison is always to other African Amercians and seemingly never John elway or Steve Young. However, you don't see too many of these QBs compared to Daunte Culpepper who is largely considered "meh" but did make a lot of noise running the ball before that bad knee injury.

Overall, I don't see Newton as being overly criticized; I just see him as having more things TO criticize. The guy has been involved in bad deeds ever since we knew who he was. The media doesn't talk about and criticze Locker's connection to stolen property that gets most people expelled because, well, Locker wasn't involved in a stolen property incident. And in a year like this year where the lockout has sucked all the reporting out of what would normally be reported on right now (free agent signings, trades, etc), there just happens to be more time for reporters to dig into what's left...and they are. mallet is being slaughtered. Gabbert is being knocked down. every defensive guy that has ever had a lower leg injury or can't run as fast as a RB is being nit picked...Its just all under more of a microscope right now because there aren't as many stories to report.

I consider myself as a guy that can usually see throught the BS and see something for what it is and in just my one totally meaningless opinion, after watching all these high profile athletes interview and ask questions and such during the season last year and through the combine; Cam Newton absolutely DOES give me the impression that he is somewhat disingenuine.

 

[Sweet Love]

"There is no question," Moon added, "that African-American quarterbacks are in a better place. We've had black quarterbacks taken first overall recently like JaMarcus Russell ... Unfortunately, those players didn't have success."One of the things that's happening with Cam is that he's being lumped in with them. It's not fair. They're all different guys." Moon explained he doesn't think NFL teams are discriminating against Newton.

I agree with him on that point. Even Mel Kiper compared him to Akili Smith. Many people have compared him to JaMarcus Russel and Vince Young. I don't think that really does him justice and it adds very little to the conversation.

I agree with you on this point, but playing devil's advocate, is there a white QB they can compare him to?

I don't know but it seems to me the other QBs in this draft aren't drawing the same negative comparison. You don't have people constantly comparing Gabbert to Alex Smith. You do not have people constantly comparing Locker to Drew Stanton. These comparison are probably just as close.

Agreed, but no one is saying they are world beaters either...lets be honest, Matt Ryan and Matt Leinert both had better projections as a pro than Gabbert does, but Gabbert most likely will go ahead of each (in regards to draft position) than either of those two. It is a weak QB class...my guess is none of these guys put up Trent Green numbers and he was an 8th rounder (if I am not mistaken)...but there is such a need for QB talent, that need outwieghs talent. Why have Gabbert and Locker avoided criticism? Because Gabbert is rising and showing he has smarts and a good attitude (and performing in pro days better than they thought he would) and Locker is a a second rounder...not a top 3 pick with this many personal question marks.

 

[Agent575]

So tired of everything being turned into a race issue. If everyone and everything is so racist then why are so many black players being paid tons of money to play a game? Why is Oprah filthy rich? Why is Chris Rock one of the top comedians? Why is there a Black History month while no White History month?

Warren, do us all a favor and s_t_f_u

 

[squistion]

So tired of everything being turned into a race issue. If everyone and everything is so racist then why are so many black players being paid tons of money to play a game? Why is Oprah filthy rich? Why is Chris Rock one of the top comedians? Why is there a Black History month while no White History month?

Warren, do us all a favor and s_t_f_u

Yes, indeed, it is obviously a slight to white people that we don't have a month set aside to celebrate their historical accomplishments.

 

[Agent575]

think you missed the point. I donlt think we should have white history month for gods sake. We donlt need black history month or mexican heritage month either.

warren moon is calling racism in when the kid in question is on the verge of making more than both of us combined....which is ridiculous.

Point was that when a minority is doing great it was hard work (which is right) but when they are not, there is always some ##### throwing "racism" out there (which is bullspit)

 

[Phlash]

think you missed the point.

I know he missed the point.

 

[renesauz]

think you missed the point.

I know he missed the point.

He may not have articulated well enough for you, but I don't think he missed the point. The racism charge comes out too quickly, and too flippantly. Worse, reverse racism is rarely called out, and some people are justifiably frustrated by that. Racism is wrong, no matter what direction it's applied. It's not racist to question the need or validity of "black history month".Moon is way off base here.

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

Why is there a Black History month while no White History month?

 

[moderated]

Why is there a Black History month while no White History month?

I thought every month was white history month.

 

[daveR]

When's the last time a white QB was compared to Akili Smith?

When's the last time a black QB was compared to John Elway?

Maybe Cam Newton is the next Ryan Leaf...

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

Why is there a Black History month while no White History month?

This is not a road we should be going down, imo. It is easy to say things like this now without realizing the hurdles overcome by initiatives like Black History Month, the Rooney Rule (in NFL), etc. While I doubt anyone would say the field is even for all at this time, there has been progress made. It has not been THAT many years since injustices which would outrage many of us. We have made progress. Let's trumpet the success. My issue with the situation is that Moon is making a racial issue out of the comments centered around Newton's demeanor. Maybe I missed it, but the PFW article did not mention Newton's lack of intelligence to be a pro QB, his athleticism trumping reading the defense, or picking up the offense (traditional racial-slanted comments about black QB without realization that there are plenty of Ryan Leafs to go around to show that those are not race characteristics). Moon is one of Newton's advisers. We get it. He wants the youngster to succeed. But, the more I hear Moon speak on the issue, the worse it sounds. There have been many come out an defend Newton. For a good read, former NFL front office exec Tony Softli did his own research.

Just my $.02

 

[Agent575]

Why is there a Black History month while no White History month?

This is not a road we should be going down, imo. It is easy to say things like this now without realizing the hurdles overcome by initiatives like Black History Month, the Rooney Rule (in NFL), etc. While I doubt anyone would say the field is even for all at this time, there has been progress made. It has not been THAT many years since injustices which would outrage many of us. We have made progress. Let's trumpet the success. My issue with the situation is that Moon is making a racial issue out of the comments centered around Newton's demeanor. Maybe I missed it, but the PFW article did not mention Newton's lack of intelligence to be a pro QB, his athleticism trumping reading the defense, or picking up the offense (traditional racial-slanted comments about black QB without realization that there are plenty of Ryan Leafs to go around to show that those are not race characteristics). Moon is one of Newton's advisers. We get it. He wants the youngster to succeed. But, the more I hear Moon speak on the issue, the worse it sounds. There have been many come out an defend Newton. For a good read, former NFL front office exec Tony Softli did his own research.

Just my $.02

Maybe the reference to the month thing should have been left out considering the different ways it was taken. Ultimately I agree with you...just ridiculous racism is even mentioned with any of this. Hurdles have been overcome for sure and those things should be recognized for what they are...I don't believe having one particular month assigned to it is the way but that is what it is...but if you ask me, these idiots that pull out the racism card for every stupid thing (like this one) is actually hurting progress more than helping it.

 

[FUBAR]

Never liked Moon personally. Didn't he beat his wife?

You're just saying that because he's

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

Maybe the reference to the month thing should have been left out considering the different ways it was taken. Ultimately I agree with you...just ridiculous racism is even mentioned with any of this. Hurdles have been overcome for sure and those things should be recognized for what they are...I don't believe having one particular month assigned to it is the way but that is what it is...but if you ask me, these idiots that pull out the racism card for every stupid thing (like this one) is actually hurting progress more than helping it.

I think it's a good question (the reference) to ask someone like Warren Moon.And you're 100% correct, he pulled the racism card out of his ### for no reason at all. It's people like Moon who are racist. Quite sad and pathetic.

 

[Dragon1952]

Aren't we past this bias re: black QB's? Pretty lame to me.

 

[Abraham]

When's the last time a white QB was compared to Akili Smith?When's the last time a black QB was compared to John Elway?Maybe Cam Newton is the next Ryan Leaf...

In the national press? Never, because mot ofnthem are safe with predictions. But around here it happens a lot. I wrote over and over that comparing vy to cunning ham was stupid and that more apt comparisons were mark Brunell and, in a best case, Steve young. I also wrote that roethlisberger remnded me of culpepper. It's a shame that most articles still have the element of race in them.

 

[Hooper31]

Why Warren feels how he feels

Mike Sando article. He's the NFC West blogger for ESPN. He used to be a beat writer for the Seahawks. Its a longer read so I clipped out the middle part.

The hour or so I spent with Warren Moon during Jake Locker's pro day was no different than the hours I'd spent with him previously over the years.

We talked football, cracked a few jokes and watched Locker zip passes around the field.

"Fluid drop," Moon said as Locker set up in the pocket.

"Short delivery," Moon observed following the throw.

There was no way to know we'd be speaking again on the phone -- about racial issues, of all things -- only two days later. Had I known Moon would dive into the center of an emotional and very personal (for him) discussion about Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, I certainly would have raised the subject then.

"If I would have known this was going to happen, I would have talked to you at the pro day," Moon said with a laugh Friday.

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And as Moon explained to ESPN's Colin Cowherd, he has no problem with the basic criticisms of Auburn's controversial quarterback. Newton's actions at Florida involving a stolen laptop and lingering issues related to his transfer to Auburn are what Moon would consider fair game. But Moon thinks the national championships Newton won make criticisms about leadership seem curious, particularly with Newton's teammates having told Moon the quarterback rallied them repeatedly. Moon thinks the high completion percentage and record-setting efficiency Newton posted in college raise red flags about questions over passing accuracy. And to say Newton has a fake smile? That part in particular grated on Moon.

"This isn't a subject I went out seeking," Moon said. "I do interviews all the time about this kid and this guy [Freeman] asked me questions about it [a possible racial element], and I told him it has a feel to me that I didn't like because I've felt it before.

"I didn't say it was blatant racism. I didn't say it was racism, per se. But I said it has a racial undertone to me that just makes me feel like the stuff that I have felt before. That feeling is my feeling, and it is a feeling only I can relate to, and maybe there are other guys out there like Doug [Williams] and those guys that would agree, and there might not be a whole lot of other people that do agree, but I bet those guys do."

 

[IvanKaramazov]

There's a legitimate point here to the fact that black QBs like Newton tend to get compared to other black QBs.

Then again, we're talking about a guy who figures to a top-5 pick, so this isn't exactly a huge injustice that we're talking about here.

 

[Hooper31]

Mike Freeman wrote the article. Nuff said..

I don't know the name. Can you elaborate on your comment?Freeman asked Moon about race, so Moon responded with what he felt. I don't think Moon brought the issue up on his own. I get the feeling this is a reporter attempting to stir the pot. Would that be typical of this writer?

 

[Hooper31]

The more I think about this the more I'm disappointed in most of the responses in this thread. Even the thread title is misleading. Moon angry? I guess if you want to disparage a guy and classify him a "race card" guy it doesn't hurt to try and attached an emotion like anger to him.

 

[cobalt_27]

There's a legitimate point here to the fact that black QBs like Newton tend to get compared to other black QBs.

But, what's legitimate the point here? Is it somehow racist? When's the last time a white player coming out of college was compared to a black player?

 

[Hooper31]

When's the last time you read this much amateur psychology in a draft guide?

Very disingenuous — has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup. Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law — does not command respect from teammates and will always struggle to win a locker room . . . Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness — is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable.

Really? Congrats on being able to see into the heart and read the mind of another person.I'm not a fan of Newton. I hope that someone else takes the flyer on Newton before Seattle picks in the last first round, but that's 100% based on what I've seen on the field.