Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
CHARLOTTE ó Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton said when he picked up the phone, he was surprised to hear Michael Vick on the other end.
ěHe was giving me (advice) on what he thought I needed to do, as far as what Iím capable of doing,î said Newton, the top pick in this yearís NFL draft. ěHeís been through my situation. . Obviously heís a person that I idolize and whatever he says right now is golden.î
Vick, the former Virginia Tech star who was the No. 1 pick in the 2001 NFL draft, wasnít thrown into the fire as a rookie the way Newton will be Sunday when the Panthers open the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals, but heís seen ó and overcome ó his share of adversity.
Newton will surely see his, too.
Heís been chosen to start the season opener after just five weeks of learning the teamís offense because of the NFL lockout and he has the weight of an entire city on his shoulders, even though coach Ron Rivera has been careful not to label him the teamís savior.
When asked if he wanted to be the opening day starter rather than sitting and watching for a few games, Newton responded, ěThatís not something thatís relevant right now. Iím just happy I have the opportunity to start and Iím just trying to put this team in the best situation.î
PETERSON TO START
TEMPE, Ariz. ó A teammate’s injury has accelerated rookie Patrick Peterson’s ascent into the Arizona Cardinals’ starting lineup.
The fifth overall draft pick will start at cornerback when the Cardinals open the season Sunday against the Panthers. Coach Ken Whisenhunt likes to bring rookies along more slowly but a season-ending knee injury to starter Greg Toler forced his hand.
MANNINGSí STREAK
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó The streak for the most consecutive starts among active quarterbacks is going to stay in possession of the Manning family.
With Peyton Manning’s streak of 227 consecutive starts ó including the postseason ó coming to an end because of a neck injury, the new leader in the category is little brother, Eli, of the New York Giants. He has started 110 consecutive games and he will go for No. 111 in the season opener in Washington on Sunday.
“I don’t know what my number is,” Eli said. “You try to be out there every week and perform and be on the field with your teammates.î
ITíS COLT
BEREA, Ohio ó Colt McCoy wears No. 12. For the Cleveland Browns, he’s also No. 10.
It’s a number they’d like to stay stuck on.
On Sunday against Cincinnati, McCoy will become the 10th different quarterback to start a season opener for the Browns since 1999, an astonishing statistic and perhaps the single biggest reason the franchise has failed miserably during an expansion era of losses. McCoy follows Ty Detmer, Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Jake Delhomme as quarterbacks to begin the year as Cleveland’s starter.
BRADFORDíS YEAR TWO
ST. LOUIS ó Sam Bradford was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year without the roster upgrades the St. Louis Rams made in the offseason.
Now that the talent pool is deeper and he’s a year older and wiser, Bradford believes everything is going to be much, much better.
“There’s no question he’s more prepared,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “He’s matured beyond his years.”
The Rams shed their doormat image with a six-win improvement last year, a 7-9 record that left them one game out of the playoffs.