PFW is back

**Formula 21** · 02-20-2016, 02:25 PM

Hub Arkush: Cam Newton scouting report from PFW still lingers, but was it wrong?
Analyst Nolan Nawrocki had solid information, PFW printed it
By HUB ARKUSH - harkush@chicagofootball.com
Published: Feb. 11, 2016 — 7:44 p.m.

It was just short of five years ago that I found myself embroiled in a bit of controversy not entirely of my own making.

As the Publisher and Editor of Pro Football Weekly, I was the ultimate arbiter of what we published, and over the years what we are best known for is creating independent draft analysis and being the leader in the field.

Over a stretch of 35 years from 1978 to 2013, I employed just two head scouts.

Our first, Joel Buchsbaum, is a legend around the NFL who unfortunately died far too young in 2002 after 24 years at PFW.

There will never be another Joel, but his successor, Nolan Nawrocki, was the next best thing.

Nolan is so good he’s an editor’s dream and worst nightmare rolled into one.

In mid-February of 2011 my Editor-In-Chief, Keith Schleiden, came to me with Nolan’s now infamous scouting report on that year’s likely No. 1 overall pick, Cam Newton, and said what do you think?

Here is the portion of the scouting report on Newton that set people’s hair on fire.

“Very disingenuous — has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup.

“Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law — does not command respect from teammates and will always struggle to win a locker room ... Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness — is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable."

I asked Nolan how solid his information was and he assured me he had multiple sources in the Auburn community and the NFL scouting community and I said "OK, then we have to print it."

Now let’s understand two things about the backlash that’s ensued to this day.

When someone is the best, and Nawrocki is, for whatever reason people make it their mission to try and prove them wrong.

Secondly, for those who had to pull out the race card, that couldn’t possibly have been less reasonable or fair.

Nobody said a word when Nawrocki laced Ryan Mallett or Johnny Manziel coming out of school just like he did Newton.

Race was never part of the equation, and Nawrocki never disputed Newton’s considerable athletic skills.

Now let’s fast forward to today.

Newton is clearly the best athlete in the NFL and a really good quarterback. Heck, he’s the MVP.

But was I the only one in San Francisco just a hair put off by how quickly the kid goes from his glaring smile to his look of "Do you know who you’re talking to?"

Is there any question left about the size of his ego and his sense of entitlement?

Was that accountability, focus, trustworthiness, dependability and maturity we saw from Newton in the Super Bowl and in his post-game performance? Or two days later when he tried to defend his childishness and sore losers everywhere?

Honestly, what were you thinking when Newton put the ball on the ground with a little over four minutes to play and his team just six points back, and then refused to go after it when he appeared to have the best chance to recover it?

Just once, people, can we put the political correctness, the race card, our jealousy and envy of people who do know more than we do aside and acknowledge what’s directly in front of us?

Nawrocki’s scouting report wasn’t perfect by a longshot, but five years later Cam Newton is a truly special football player who has shown signs of becoming a very special person who right now still has a lot to learn about being a fully grown man.

Perhaps Nawrocki could have made his point more delicately, but last Sunday Newton did a lot more to prove him right than he did to prove him wrong.

It’s still Cam’s show but the next act is the one that will truly matter.

**bonehead** · 02-20-2016, 03:44 PM

I used to read PFW and Street and Smiths when I was a kid

**Steve** · 02-20-2016, 04:26 PM

I loved reading PFW every week on Friday afternoons. It was the first place you could get a team specific stuff on all the teams in the Whispers section, even after the advent of ESPN.com. And PFW was so much better written and more thought provoking. It did go downhill after Joel Buchsbaum died.

**Lightningwill_420** · 02-20-2016, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by bonehead View Post

I used to read PFW and Street and Smiths when I was a kid

Word. I was into Pro Football Weekly, Chargers Magazine, and ZooNews as a kid. I'd probably still be into them, but the Internet has really taken over my life. I can't be bothered waiting a whole week to read where Donny Macek likes to bass fish or what animal Joan Embery is planning to bring to the Tonight Show to piss on Johnny's face.

**Fleet** · 02-20-2016, 07:34 PM

Joel Buchsbaum got me hooked on the draft.

**Formula 21** · 02-20-2016, 07:51 PM

Every year, I used to run down to the Parris news stand in North Park to get the printed version of their draft guide. On the day it came out, before they were sold out.

**bonehead** · 02-20-2016, 08:33 PM

Originally posted by Fleet View Post

Joel Buchsbaum got me hooked on the draft.

A true pioneer. To refer to him as a "visionary" would be an understatement .....

**Mister Hoarse** · 02-20-2016, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by Fleet View Post

Joel Buchsbaum got me hooked on the draft.

My son and I were also hooked by Buschbaum. He was a genius at video scouting. Kiper is still the same jackass with a hairstyle.

PFW is back

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