RICHMOND had a new recruit running around Punt Road Oval on Tuesday, though the 111kg, 196cm fresh face was the first to admit that he “can honestly say I don’t know what I’m doing”.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has joined the Tigers this week as part of Gatorade’s Athlete Exchange program, and despite starring Stateside after being taken as the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the 26-year-old said he was feeling a little out of his depth.

But he can see the similarities between the United States’ biggest sport and the AFL.

“It’s a very cool sport,” he said.

“I knew nothing about footy, as you guys call it.

“But no matter what sport you’re playing, no matter where you’re from, there’s so many similarities are in sports as a whole. We need others in football as well as playing the game of footy and as well as in life, so I’m carrying over a lot of things.”

media_camera Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton gets sme tips from Tigers development coach Mark Williams. Picture: Michael Klein

Newton attended Richmond’s win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, and says he still can’t believe the level of raw physicality in Australian Rules.

“In our sport, they’re constantly putting things on you to protect you, but in this sport they’re taking things away,” he said.

“I’m seeing guys get prepared and all they’re wearing in essence is a tank top and a pair of boxers and going out there and giving it all they have. That makes them courageous.”

Richmond defender Chris Newman, a big NFL fan, admits he’s been a little keener than most to get time with Newton, and says he’s brought plenty of insight.

But he does concede it’s been nice to see someone who is so dominant in their own sport battle with the Sherrin in hand.

“It’s great to see someone so cool struggle at a sport,” Newman joked.

media_camera Cam Newton keeps his eye on the footy. Picture: Michael Klein

“We have a little cheeky smile when he gets a football in his hand, but he’s been impressive. The boys have loved him, and no more than me. The boys have been giving it to me — I’ve been in his back pocket for the entire trip.”

Newton says a few Tigers have caught his eye with skills they could translate to the NFL, joking that Newman is a prime example.

“We have so many similarities. We have the same initials — Chris Newman, Cam Newton,” he said.

“We have the same number. We bring the same swag — look at him, look at me.

“So many guys have caught my eye with the performance that they had this past game (against the Giants) and you can’t do nothing but respect them.”