The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take the field in Week 4, and while it will be the first time Cam Newton and Jameis Winston meet face to face, it won’t be the first time the quarterbacks have been in contact.
According to Winston, the two have talked frequently, and Newton has been mentoring the rookie:
“I’ve talked to Cam numerous times,” Winston said, per Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com. “He’s just a great person for me to look up to and kind of model my style off (of). What we’ve been through, we’ve basically been through the same things – the Heisman, then going to the league so he’s definitely a great person to try to seek for things to do to better myself.”
Winston said that most important takeaway he has learned from Newton is to “just be yourself.” Winston also said Newton, who apparently “exaggerates how blessed he is to be playing” football and his enthusiasm and energy.
The two quarterbacks really do have a lot in common. Both are No. 1 overall picks among their draft classes. They’re also Heisman trophy winners, and both led their college teams undefeated to national championships. Winston accomplished this in 2013 at Florida State, and Newton did the same for Auburn in 2010.
Their physical attributes are similar as well with Newton standing 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, while Winston is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds.
It should be exciting to see the young quarterbacks square off this Sunday when the 1-2 Buccaneers host the undefeated Panthers in the NFC South matchup.