NEW YORK, April 29 (Reuters) - Cam Newton's drive to overcome adversity was a critical element in the Carolina Panthers' decision to make the Auburn quarterback the top pick in the NFL Draft, head coach Ron Rivera said on Friday."He has some intangibles. His leadership qualities
, his willingness to work, his want to win," Rivera told ESPN Radio about what convinced the Panthers to make him the first overall selection Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall.
The 21-year-old Newton had impressive gridiron credentials, leading Auburn to a 14-0 record and the BCS National Championship last season while throwing 30 touchdown passes and running for another 20 touchdowns.
Newton had a more difficult time off the field in his path to the NFL, transferring out of the University of Florida and into a junior college after being caught with a stolen laptop.
He later transferred back into big-time college football at Auburn, but found himself in a controversy over his eligibility after it was revealed that his father tried to solicit payments from another university for his son's services in violation of strict amateur rules governing college players.
Newton was exonerated as officials decided he had no knowledge of his father's activities.
"This young man is a very driven player. He has had a lot of adversity," said Rivera, who added that the team looked thoroughly into the controversial incidents involving Newton.
"He made a big mistake when he was 18 years old. But it didn't ruin him, it didn't finish him off. He rose above it.
"Here's a guy who has had some situations and rose above it and won two national championships -- one at the junior college level and one at the Division One level, and then won a Heisman Trophy during a tremendous amount of distraction."
Rivera said it would be unfair to place the whole burden of improving the 2-14 Panthers on Newton.
"It's not a guy we're bringing in by himself and going to have him fix our team by himself," the coach said. "He's coming in to be an important part of what we do. But the other guys have to hold up their side.
"But this is a guy we feel can make the most impact on our team and that's why we took him first."
, his willingness to work, his want to win," Rivera told ESPN Radio about what convinced the Panthers to make him the first overall selection Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall.
The 21-year-old Newton had impressive gridiron credentials, leading Auburn to a 14-0 record and the BCS National Championship last season while throwing 30 touchdown passes and running for another 20 touchdowns.
Newton had a more difficult time off the field in his path to the NFL, transferring out of the University of Florida and into a junior college after being caught with a stolen laptop.
He later transferred back into big-time college football at Auburn, but found himself in a controversy over his eligibility after it was revealed that his father tried to solicit payments from another university for his son's services in violation of strict amateur rules governing college players.
Newton was exonerated as officials decided he had no knowledge of his father's activities.
"This young man is a very driven player. He has had a lot of adversity," said Rivera, who added that the team looked thoroughly into the controversial incidents involving Newton.
"He made a big mistake when he was 18 years old. But it didn't ruin him, it didn't finish him off. He rose above it.
"Here's a guy who has had some situations and rose above it and won two national championships -- one at the junior college level and one at the Division One level, and then won a Heisman Trophy during a tremendous amount of distraction."
Rivera said it would be unfair to place the whole burden of improving the 2-14 Panthers on Newton.
"It's not a guy we're bringing in by himself and going to have him fix our team by himself," the coach said. "He's coming in to be an important part of what we do. But the other guys have to hold up their side.
"But this is a guy we feel can make the most impact on our team and that's why we took him first."
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