I'm not the kind of guy who trolls through websites looking for my name. But I talked to a buddy from ESPN.com this morning and he said the Cam Newton column I wrote Tuesday attracted national attention.
This is the part where I pretend not to care. I do care. I just don't care too much.
Here's a conversation that will never take place.
ME: I was mentioned on Dan Patrick's radio show, ma. They talked about me on ESPN 2 or 3 or 5. And I was in Pro Football Talk. I made it, ma. I made it.
MA: That's nice, son. Does this mean you're going to move out of the basement?
I didn't say in the column that the Panthers were going to take Newton with the first pick in the draft. I said either they plan to take him or want the rest of the NFL to think they are.
You can dispute what I wrote if you choose. Talk among yourselves. But I don't make stuff up.
ESPN and I were first to write that the Panthers planned to take Andrew Luck with the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft (had he come out). Shocking, right?
I was the first to write that the 2010 season would be John Fox's last as head coach of the Panthers, the first to write that Fox and his staff and general manager Marty Hurney would return for the 2010 season, the first to write that the Panthers offered to make Julius Peppers the highest paid defensive player in NFL history and the first to write that Jon and Mark Richardson, the sons of owner Jerry Richardson, did not, as the Panthers announced, resign. They were fired.
I'm not bragging.
I'm saying, simply, that credibility is more important than attention.
Congrats. You wrote a speculative column that can never be proven wrong. How impressive.
Posted by: Chris | March 17, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Mind blown.
Posted by: SkinsFanAgain | March 17, 2011 at 01:10 PM
Have always enjoyed your articles, Tom...
Posted by: Aaron | March 17, 2011 at 01:11 PM
yes I read it. In hopes it was your resignation you were posting.
Posted by: trjam | March 17, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Wow you really went out on a limb... They will draft him or they will act like they will draft him and not... Toot Toot..
Posted by: Tony | March 17, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Credibility is indeed important. And you have it. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Mike | March 17, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Tom-
What will really impress me is if you were right on the bet you made on slicked back hairstyles. Will it come into vogue? We've been waiting many years.
Posted by: me | March 17, 2011 at 01:28 PM
I have a prediction. The sun will either rise tomorrow, or it won't. There. And I'm credible. I've predicted the rising of the sun every day for the past 2 years. Bask in my immense sports knowledge and consider yourself lucky for the pleasure of reading my daily banalities.
Posted by: Chris | March 17, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Toot your horn Tom Toot it!
tweet tweet tweet....................
Posted by: big daddy | March 17, 2011 at 01:44 PM
you are inCREDIBLE-y awful man.
Posted by: Sean May | March 17, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Mr. Sorensen, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Posted by: Principal, whose wife is a dirty, dirty tramp | March 17, 2011 at 02:11 PM
haha. ooookkkayyy. off to read the www.thecharlottejohn.com blog
Posted by: PantherFan233 | March 17, 2011 at 02:57 PM
You wrote that Cam Newton was their pick or that they are bluffing so to trade down......
Isn't that obvious? Everyone knows that.
I would have more respect for your columns if you just took a stand on one or the other...or if you found some useful information on why Newton is or isn't the guy. Something no one else knows.
But those are just my thoughts...
Posted by: James Burris | March 17, 2011 at 03:12 PM
It simply makes no sense for the Panthers to "want the rest of the NFL to think they will take Newton". They have the number one overall pick. Which means no one can jump them. To try to make the rest of the NFL think you're taking a player your not only benefits a team if they don't want to be jumped and are not interested in moving up to get the player you want or if you have a pick that you're interested in trading that isn't the top overall pick.
Posted by: T | March 17, 2011 at 03:13 PM
Gee! The Panthers have already acted like they're going to pick Newton (as have several teams), so you're already half right. If they pick him or don't pick him you'll be 100% right. In any event, you're 100% correct. How can anyone argue with someone who is 100% correct.
Posted by: pooler | March 17, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Why write this?? Do public self imposed pats on the back achieve anything other than looking pathetic? Perhaps you started drinking early on St. Patrick's Day.
Posted by: pnthrfan | March 17, 2011 at 03:55 PM
You obviously started celebrating St Patricks Day early today.
Try writing your next article sober numbnuts.
Posted by: Scott Sadler | March 17, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Well congratulations. Now, can you stop patting yourself on the back long enough to report on the Blaine Gabbert Pro day. I know he isn't your favorite like Fig Newton is but according to people who were there he was outstanding. He made accurate throws looks good under center making his drops. At the combine he exceled at breaking down film on diferent defenses showing he has actual football knowledge. The kicker is that he looked good today even though he used unfamiliar recievers. Wasn't that Newton's excuse at the combine? This guy is a real QB not a pretend on like Newton but of course you don't report on him because you like alot of fans are enamored with Newton's celebrity. News flash celebrity doesn't win football games.
Posted by: Jerry | March 17, 2011 at 04:01 PM
Wow Tom! You're an absolute genius!
How's that? Is that what you're looking for?
Posted by: tim rohan | March 17, 2011 at 04:20 PM
Guys,
At least he's not Darin Gantt.
Posted by: Fred | March 17, 2011 at 04:28 PM
should have been a weather man
Posted by: dale | March 17, 2011 at 04:30 PM
Gabbert has done a good job of persueding most people that he has the most talent, upside and coachability of any of the quarterback. But I still think Newton's talents are stunning -- http://bit.ly/TopDraftQBs -- he's the guy worth taking a chance on at #1
Posted by: Lech112 | March 17, 2011 at 04:57 PM
Either Tom is a douche or he writes like a douche to make us think he's one.
I am credible.
Posted by: White Mamba | March 17, 2011 at 04:58 PM
Why can't it be both White Mamba? Isn't that what a douche would do?
Posted by: ohohoho | March 17, 2011 at 05:12 PM
Gabbert can't carry Cam Newton's jock strap.
Posted by: Brown | March 17, 2011 at 06:15 PM