The Facts:
As the Heisman Trophy winner prepares for the scrutiny of being the NFL's No. 1 overall pick, Newton's work ethic, fitness and willingness to fit in are impressing his veteran teammates. "He showed up every day early. He's working hard," LB Jon Beason said Thursday. "He's interacted well and he's shown some great leadership."
Reported by the Associated Press
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
According to AP sports writer Mike Cranston, Newton is making the best of an offseason like no other because of the lockout. He can't talk to Carolina's new coaching staff. He's forced to learn the playbook on his own. He doesn't have a contract. It's uncertain if top WR Steve Smith will be his teammate. There is no indication how long of a preseason there will be. ... Newton was able to get a playbook and meet with Carolina's coaches the day after the first round of the draft, when the lockout was temporarily lifted. He said OC Rob Chudzinski gave him some "focus points. ..." Unfortunately for Newton and the Panthers, the more time passes with the rookie being limited to player-organized workouts and without the direct supervision of his coaching staff, the harder it will be for him to make an immediate impact -- something that wasn't going to be easy under ideal circumstances.
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