Cam Newton can throw a fastball, but he’d rather not face one

(AP) If you’ve watched Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton at any point during his phenomenal college and professional football career, you’d honestly believe he was fearless.

His willingness to step up in the pocket as 300-pound linemen and hard-hitting linebackers bear down certainly gives that impression. His willingness to pull the ball down and run, knowing full well that all 11 defenders want to give him their best shot, is another sign of fearlessness. And let’s be honest, his desire to get under an opponents’ skin with his in-game celebrations and taunts is the greatest evidence that he’s simply not afraid of the consequences.

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In fact, he’s flat out daring the opponent to make him stop.

Being fearless is a powerful attribute to have, and Newton uses that as a tool, knowing that the more frustrated he can make an opposing defense, the less focused they’ll be. And that the less focused they are, the better chance he’ll have to carve them up with his rocket arm and remarkable speed.

His fearless nature doesn’t define him by any means. His elite talent and flamboyant personality are a big part of him too. But it surely completes him as the ultimate football package. It allows Cam Newton to command the game every time he’s on the field.

A football field that is. Because wouldn’t you know, Newton didn’t develop that same fearless nature in every sport he played as a youth. In fact, as we learned in an interview with ESPN The Magazine in 2013, and were reminded on Friday by Cut 4’s Chris Landers, Newton’s inability to do so on the baseball field is the reason he walked away at age 14.

I quit baseball at 14 because I was afraid of the pitches. The kids started getting better and throwing faster, and it would’ve hurt getting hit by that ball, so I stopped playing.

Cam Newton can throw a fastball with precision to his All-Pro tight end Greg Olsen, but facing one on a baseball field is an entirely different story.

Granted, Newton is far from alone in this thinking. It can be intimidating and sometimes downright scary to stand in against a hard-throwing pitcher, especially one who’s looked a little wild or inconsistent during warm ups. And as many of us can vouch, being hit by a baseball really does hurt. But could it possibly be any scarier or more painful than the life and career Newton has chosen in the NFL?

Maybe, maybe not. Only Newton knows for sure how he feels about it. But for those of us who don’t know the difference, it’s an interesting point to ponder.

One thing does seem clear though: When he played baseball, Cam Newton loved it.

Around age 9, I played baseball too. I played center field because I loved Ken Griffey Jr. I was always a pretty good athlete, so my coach would shuffle me around to third base or shortstop, which was fine with me. This was when the Braves were good, and they had Chipper Jones, and I was also a big fan of Derek Jeter’s. Those pickup, backyard games were the most fun — just those warm nights in the South where you smell the fresh-cut grass and walk home exhausted. Those nights were the best.

Another thing that’s clear: He picked the right sport.

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As a Heisman Trophy winner, potential NFL MVP and possible Super Bowl winning quarterback, he is on the verge of accomplishing all that’s desired in a football career. His body will pay the price for that, just as every football player’s body does, but the level of comfort he feels and superiority he enjoys obviously makes it worth his while.

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