Criticized for comments earlier in the week in which he labeled himself an entertainer and an icon, Cam Newton aimed to set the record straight while also trying to present himself as a talent concerned only with becoming a franchise NFL quarterback.
"First and foremost I understand that my obligation is to be the best possible football player that I can be," said Newton in a prepared opening statement. "I know and believe that. The recent comments I made were during the announcement of my new endorsement partnership. I was making the point that I want to be the best possible ambassador for them just like I want to be the best possible ambassador for whatever team I am lucky enough to play for."
From that point on Newton expressed how grateful he was to be invited to the NFL combine and how focused he is on making a successful transition to the NFL coming from a spread offense at Auburn.
"For me I'm going to continue to work on my craft and that's to become the best quarterback possible," said Newton. "I have been trying to work as much as possible on trying to fluid in coming from under center with the three step game, the five step and also the seven step drop. (Quarterback coach) George (Whitfield) and I have been working day and night, in the film room, on the chalkboard or on the field throwing routes."
Newton's athletic ability is undeniable, and while the NCAA investigation into whether Cecil Newton offered his son up to Mississippi State for money could be seen as a negative, some NFL clubs might view his ability to persevere without a drop-off in his performance as a sign that he can handle the fish bowl world that NFL signal callers live in.
"He did a great job," said Auburn receiver Darvin Adams. "You could never tell there was something wrong with Cam. He kept a good demeanor. He did his job as a leader. He led us to the national championship."
The Heisman trophy winner would not identify the teams he interviewed with Friday night with the exception of the Cowboys, nor would he give his thoughts about the prospect about being drafted by the Bills third overall come late April.
"Right now I'm not focused on that," he said. "My focus is on the meetings I have (Saturday night). I'm going to try to make a lasting impression on these offensive coordinators, these different organizations. That will be the deciding factor in picking me."
Newton portrayed an appreciation for the time put in by some of the league's best signal callers hoping he too is seen as a quarterback ready to dedicate himself to the game.
"The biggest thing for me going into this whole transition into the NFL I think is preparation," he said. "I admire the guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning who are professionals at what they do. I'll guarantee from what I've heard from their teams you're not going to outwork them. They're in doing film study before the offensive coordinator is watching film. I respect that.
"Football is my number one priority. I want to make that perfectly clear. I'm just going to go in to whatever organization that I'm picked up I'm going to be lucky. I'm going to be happy because this is a dream that I've always envisioned myself doing."
