Now, though, with the NFL season upon us, the focus has shifted to what Newton can do on the gridiron. We spoke with him the morning after his first professional start, a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, in which he completed just seven of 14 pass attempts, managed just three first downs, and threw for just 66 yards as the Panthers fell 20–10. Like many well-paid athletes, Newton knows to choose his words wisely, but when we spoke, he was in good humor—and surprisingly candid about his inauspicious debut and the peculiarities of making a living being chased around by 300-pound men. The icon stuff? He says that can wait—which is, of course, exactly the attitude that turns football stars into football heroes.

JONATHAN DURBIN: How are you feeling after last night’s game?

CAM NEWTON: Everything’s good. Of course, I didn’t get to win, so that bothered me, but it’s just the preseason and I’m still learning. I’ll watch the film, learn, and hopefully I’ll get better. I’m not going to rush anything.

DURBIN: I know it’s very early on in your career, but what differences have you found between college and the NFL?

NEWTON: The defense’s velocity, man—everybody’s so fast. You see yourself running around out there, getting chased by 300-pound linemen . . . In college, typically, you can run faster than those guys to get yourself out of trouble, but I don’t think I’ll be able to get out of it like that now. [laughs] It’s their job! In college you had to worry about that math class or this exam that’s coming up on Tuesday, but not in the professionals. You eat, sleep, and do everything related to your craft—and your craft is football. You can be at it from sunup to sundown.

DURBIN: I see—no distractions. So as you’re moving into the season, what are you focusing on?

NEWTON: I’ve got to grow up fast. You’re not talking to freshmen anymore. You’re not trying to get them on board, saying, “Hey, man, let’s get out there.” Now you’re talking to grown men, and they’re like, “Man, I gotta get my kids outta daycare,” and “I gotta take my wife out to dinner.” It’s different. It’s real. You don’t have to motivate them as much. I’m working on understanding my role.

DURBIN: You’re only 22 years old and you’re suddenly in a very intense leadership position. Is that intimidating?

NEWTON: Ummm . . . Not really. That’s just something that comes natural in a person. The hard part is that you’re always in the spotlight. Oftentimes I see myself on TV, and it’s like, “Man, what have I become?” I used to hope I was gonna be on TV, hoping people would see me playing football. Now, I’m being critiqued at the highest level—you know, “Cam didn’t do that right. He didn’t do this right.” Which is fine, but there’s no off switch. If I go downstairs right now and cuss out somebody, it’s going to be on ESPN tomorrow, you can believe that. That’s the difference.