Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Cam picks No.1; Clausen stays No.2

The Great Jersey Debate is over.

Cam Newton came in to see Panther equipment guru Jackie Miles today and told him that he would stick with No.1, the jersey that Miles had temporarily assigned him. Miles said Newton had thought about it overnight -- he had a chance to switch the number to several other choices -- but kept it at No.1.

Jimmy Clausen will stay with No.2, the number Newton had coveted but apparently did not make much of an attempt to get. The two will compete for the starting quarterback job this season.

Newton wearing No.1 will be unusual for the Panthers, to say the least. Miles has been the team's head equipment guy -- and quite possibly the NFL's best at that job -- since the team started playing in 1995. He tells me that no Panther has EVER worn No.1 during the regular season (this in large part because Miles has never assigned it before).

"But we've also never used the No.1 overall pick on a player before," Miles said Wednesday. "That was my reasoning in giving it to him originally. Cam thought about it overnight and said he didn't want to make waves about changing numbers, that it wasn't a big deal to him and he would just keep it."

Expect the jersey to go on sale at various outlets very soon.

I said in today's column that Newton shouldn't try to get No.2 from Clausen and should make an impact with a different number than the one he wore in college, but I advocated him not taking the No.1 because of the additional pressure it would place on him. But hey, it was his decision.

Now the question will be how long it will take for that No.1 on the back of Cam's jersey to correspond to his position on the Panthers' depth chart. It certainly won't start out that way, but it may not be long.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for Cam! It's a nod to Warren Moon, and for branding purposes, he is the only QB in the NFL wearing #1.

Anonymous said...

I have no problem with this. In fact, I like it a lot. As someone said on another post, the people who have a problem with him wearing #1 are the people who will hate him no matter what. Now let's get Cam signed so he doesn't miss any camp!

Anonymous said...

I give Cam kudos for going this route. I was an anti-Cam guy to begin with, but he has been doing and saying nearly all of the right things since he has come to Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

First mistake Cam has made since being drafted in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Shame on Jackie Miles for "temporarily" giving it to him in the first place.

Anonymous said...

I don't care what number he wears as long as he has a winning attitude and makes us a better team.

Anonymous said...

1 or 2, what about #12, it works for Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers or give Cam a running back jersey, #22

Anonymous said...

In some motorsports, the person who wins a championship the previous year runs the next season as Number 1. While Cam is a champion, albeit not yet in the NFL, he was the #1 draft pick. Cam is a hard worker and a leader. I think he will represent the Number 1 well. Let's hope all of the Panthers can wear the same number after the Super Bowl this year!

Anonymous said...

Wont matter when we draft Andrew Luck with the #1 pick next year

Cams a sham and just a dumb coconut head

Anonymous said...

newton a hard worker?

super bowl?

somebody needs to get off the crack or meth

Anonymous said...

Its not a big deal wearing #1 on your jersey. He didnt want to ruffle feathers with his team members. Cam has done the right thing. I wore #1 in college....and the ladies flocked to me ! Cam.....make sure you wrap the rascal as the ladies will be a callin !

Anonymous said...

C'mon. The Panthers are in Charlotte.
You know, hub of NASCAR.

Cam should wear "01".

Anonymous said...

I think it's a bold move that will serve his legacy well as his career progresses. If he flops what does it matter if his number is 1 or 100?

Anonymous said...

"he is the only QB in the NFL wearing #1"

Troy Smith

Anonymous said...

The "01" is his IQ based on his past academic record so it fits well.

BJIGGY2 said...

Seriously, who cares... it is a number. Who would have a problem with this? Why would this bother anybody? I don't get it.

The only time I am bothered by the number 1 is when that is the Panthers total number of wins in a season.

Anonymous said...

Thank God this is settled!

You can move on now Fowler!

By the way if you want to donate your own money to charity have at it, but don't voluteer Cam's or anyone elses.

Anonymous said...

"1 or 2, what about #12, it works for Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers or give Cam a running back jersey, #22"
.... well cam could only go up to the #19 as a QB and David Gettis wears #12.. so #1 it is

Anonymous said...

only scott fowler could report on such a trivial matter while the last 24 hour period has been the most exciting free agent period in team history. surprised he didn't find a way to turn this into his patented
"5 reasons jimmy should have given cam
the no. 2 jerseys. now that would have been some exciting reporting.
what a joke.

Anonymous said...

Jimmy Clausen is a joke!! He should have gift wrapped the #2 jersey to Cam!!! But #1 is fine. Cam will look good in any number!!! Ready to get my jersey. Go Cam!!!