Bob Costas interviewed Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly (separately) for tonight’s Week 14 edition of Football Night In America, which will preview Panthers-Saints, and include highlights, analysis and reaction to earlier Week 14 games. Alex Flanagan will report from Candlestick Park in San Francisco on the Seahawks-49ers game.
Below are excerpts from Costas’ interview with Cam Newton. This is exclusive interview airs tonight on Football Night in America.
CAM NEWTON WITH BOB COSTAS
On how he sees the game now vs. his first NFL snap: “It’s more about managing and understanding what you have to do. When I first came into the league, I wanted to make every single play a big play. Having a play-making ability kind of is your gift and a curse. But in this league, you have to sustain drives.”
On his experience playing in the Superdome: “It’s a loud atmosphere, to say the least. These fans are not your friends. They talk to you, they say things, the costumes that they wear; it’s rather interesting to see. But as a player, you have to block all that out because at the end of the day, it’s all about the 11 on 11 that are playing in between the goal posts.”
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan