Cam Newton vs Daunte Culpepper... a couple of "busts"?

by Dane Noble on Apr 18, 2011 1:29 PM CDT in NFL Draft

There have been many folks who think Cam Newton has the same "bust" potential as Daunte Culpepper... both are big-armed QBs whose skill set include relying on their running ability to make plays. As with any running QB, the potential of injury increases, and we saw Culpepper's career take a turn because of that.

But, would you call Culpepper a "bust" like so many people have? Let's take a look at his numbers...

Culpepper was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro. His rookie season he was essentially reshirted, and the over next 5 seasons, his stats were:

2000: 62.7%/ 3,937 yds/ 33 TDs/ 470 rushing yds/ 7 rushing TDs
2001: 64.2%/ 2,612 yds/ 14 TDs/ 416 rushing yds/ 5 rushing TDs (only 11 games played)
2002: 60.7%/ 3,853 yds/ 18 TDs/ 609 rushing yds/ 10 rushing TDs
2003: 65.0%/ 3,479 yds/ 25 TDs/ 422 rushing yds/ 4 rushing TDs (14 games played)
2004: 69.2%/ 4,717 yds/ 39 TDs/ 406 rushing yds/ 2 rushing TDs

----------------------------------

Culpepper had his INT issues at times, like many QBs, but for the most part, don’t you think Carolina, or whoever does draft Newton, would be happy with that sort of 5 year performance to kick off his career?

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think it was the extremely rapid nature of his descent that got him a bust label.

He kicked major butt for 5 years and then completely sucked. But I get your point.

Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.

by Just Dave on Apr 18, 2011 1:33 PM CDT reply actions

Never same after the knee injury

not a bust

Guns dont kill people. Brian Urlacher kills people.

by Bear Lovin 21 on Apr 18, 2011 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Injury.

Who knows where his ceiling would have ended if it weren’t for the devastating injury in 2006 (?).

Gave the Bears fits for a few years.

Semper Fi!

Gems of the 2011 NFL Draft (Prediction Made 3/30/11 @4:39p)
1.) Cam Newton (give him two years)
2.) Corey Luiget
3.) A.J. Green
4.) Ryan Williams

by ChicagoMarine on Apr 18, 2011 2:05 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah I'd never call Culpepper a bust

This 5 year range he was great, every year a battle for the playoffs between him and Favre.

Jay Cutler is still my quarterback.

by Sam Householder on Apr 18, 2011 2:20 PM CDT reply actions

Culpepper was hardly a bust, as Marine said above

He was just never the same after his injury. What set apart from other QBs was his athleticism and mobility outside of the pocket, and the injury robbed him of that. True, he never lived to his potential, but injuries rob people of their primes and their ceiling.

Bears. Bulls. White Sox.

by The Voiss on Apr 18, 2011 2:21 PM CDT reply actions

Easy Tiger...

(pun intended)
I think Newton has a bust potential of JaMarcus Russel proportions, but that his career will likely be more like that of Culpepper where he actually has some early success and ends up injured more often than not and on the PUP list. Mostly because, unlike Culpepper, he will not have 2 HOF WRs, Mike Tice coached O-line, and the ability to “red shirt” his first season. I see him as a microcosm of Culpepper, but accelerated to today’s expectations of “win now” philosophies. The problem with pure athletes like Newton isn’t that they can’t handle the physical or mental demands of their position, but that there are plenty of other guys who are just as athletic/smart and have more experience standing in their way!

by LostInSTL on Apr 18, 2011 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

Well said.

Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.

by Just Dave on Apr 18, 2011 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

He has the same skill sets of Dante Culpepper

But, so did JaMarcus Russell. Cam Newton as stated may have 1 good WR in Steve Smith ( and thats a big IF ) as well as a good RB to work with, but he has to learn he is just 1 piece of a team, as he can’t continue to think he is going to be the next HOF QB and that he is the team.

Perhaps this will be the first and biggest test for their new coach, former Bears DC Ron Rivera.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Apr 18, 2011 3:56 PM CDT reply actions

Culpepper's fall was a product of injury.

It is very few who can change the kind of player they are completely and still be successful. Randall Cunningham is the only example of that kind of player who suffered that type of injury and successfully changed his game. There may be other examples, but Cunningham is the only one I can think of off the top of my head.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Apr 18, 2011 8:36 PM CDT reply actions