Cowherd moves past Newton, targets different No. 1 pick

Boisterous Cam Newton critic, Colin Cowherd, finds another No. 1 pick to ridicule…

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been a lightning rod for controversy since entering the NFL seven years ago. He has received ridicule for both on field performances in addition to numerous run ins with the media – both national and local.

Despite winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, a league MVP award and making the playoffs in four of his seven seasons, critics manage to find deficiencies within Newton’s game. If not on the field, then via actions away from football and no one has been louder than Colin Cowherd.

The Fox Sports 1 and radio personality has made a good living by criticizing athletes and Newton has been a favorite target for some time. Three weeks into last season, Cowherd had written Newton off as a franchise quarterback and later in the year boasted Newton would never be great because of his personality.

Carolina made the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons and had an opportunity for another divisional title but couldn’t capitalize. An obvious focal points for critics, but those looking at the big picture sat back in appreciation for what had been accomplished.

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The Panthers traded their No. 1 wide receiver, sustained injuries elsewhere on the roster, prepared without the full services of their quarterback and pieced together an impressive year – but critics remained.

Baker Mayfield, the first overall pick from this year’s NFL Draft, hasn’t played a single snap of professional football but is already subject to Cowherd’s criticism. The television host used a brief five-second clip of Mayfield not celebrating a touchdown with his teammates and attempted to spin the footage into him not being a team player.

Fortunately, Mayfield did not succumb to the analysis and instead defended his actions while questioning Cowherd’s intention. Quickly, it became apparent Mayfield was going to set the record straight, as he should, and Cowherd attempted moving on to another line of questioning.

Good news for Newton, as apparently the Cleveland Browns quarterback will draw his fair share of pundit’s attacks but the two should work together for a fair analysis of what takes place on and off the field.

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Fortunately, Mayfield had an opportunity to respond unlike Newton, who is often not granted the same professional courtesy.