Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Cam Newton had one of the greatest debut performances in NFL history on Sunday, but after the Panthers’ 28-21 loss to the Cardinals, he was unhappy.

One of the veteran leaders in the Panthers’ locker room is taking that as a good sign from the rookie quarterback.

“Cam is very disappointed,” wide receiver Steve Smith said. “I’m encouraged by that.”

Newton, who’s just a year removed from leading Auburn to a perfect season, was dejected about the loss. “The last time I lost a game was Navarro Junior College,” Newton said. “What do you want me to say, it feels great? It is not a comfortable feeling for me.”

Panthers’ Cam Newton Is Sweet In Defeat

Brushing off criticism that he could not succeed as a pro passer, Newton shredded the Arizona secondary for 422 yards and accounted for all three of the Panthers’ touchdowns. But the Cardinals took advantage of secondary and special teams breakdowns by the Panthers to claim a 28-21 victory and spoil the debut of the No. 1 draft pick.

Newton broke the record held by Peyton Manning (302) for passing yards by a rookie in Week 1 and equaled Matthew Stafford’s record total for rookies. Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick of Detroit, threw for 422 yards against Cleveland in Week 10 in 2009.

NEW YORK — Already being outplayed by Sam Stosur in the U.S. Open final, the last thing Serena Williams needed was to lose a game for yelling during a point.

That’s exactly what happened early in the second set, leading to an argument between Williams and the chair umpire, a scene less ugly than — but reminiscent of — the American’s tirade two years ago at the same tournament. In the end, Stosur beat Williams 6-2, 6-3 Sunday in a surprisingly lopsided upset for her first Grand Slam title.

“I think I had one of my best days,” Stosur said. “I’m very fortunate to do it on this stage.”

“She played really, really well. She’s a great player, and it’s good to see,” Williams said. “I tried my hardest and she kept hitting winners and I was, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing?’

ANKARA, TURKEY — New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams has arrived in Istanbul to start his stint with Turkish basketball team Besiktas.

The Istanbul-based club said the All-Star guard arrived Thursday together with his family. Williams has joined Besiktas until the end of the NBA lockout. Williams averaged 20.1 points and 10.3 assists for the Nets and the Utah Jazz last season.

Besiktas signed Allen Iverson last season, but the former NBA MVP only played 10 games because of injury. Other NBA players that have signed to play in the Turkish league include Nets guard Sasha Vujacic, Darius Songaila of the Philadelphia 76ers and Nets draft pick Bojan Bogdanovic.

NEW YORK — Plaxico Burress is critical of Giants coach Tom Coughlin, quarterback Eli Manning and fans for the way they reacted when he was sent to prison on a gun charge in the October issue of Men’s Journal.

Burress, now with the Jets, says he wished Coughlin had shown some concern when he met with him after accidentally shooting himself in the leg in November 2008 and adds that Coughlin is “not a real positive coach.”

Burress says he was disappointed Manning never visited him or tried to communicate with him while he served his 20-month prison sentence. He also says the cruel letters he received from fans made him feel like “a human pincushion.”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open their 2011 regular season against the same team they ended their 2010 season.

The Bucs will host the Detroit Lions at Raymond James Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. The last time the two teams met, the Bucs came up on the short end of a 23-20 score.

The Buccaneer defense will have to face a man known as “Megatron”  (6’5” wide receiver Calvin Johnson) on offense, and the offense will be looking at a force known as Ndamukong Suh.

The Bucs finished the 2010 season with a 10-6 record and just missed the playoffs. The Lions won all of their preseason games this year, and ended last season on a win streak.

Buccaneer head coach, Raheem Morris, knows his team has to be mentally and physically ready to challenge the Lions. Buc quarterback Josh Freeman and the offense did not show any rhythm or timing during the preseason and will not get a break against a Lion defense that is considered one of the best in the NFL.

The Buccaneer defense staggered out of the blocks, but finished strong, and Coach Morris is pleased with the depth on that side of the ball.

Sources indicate the Bucs are 3-point favorites over the Lions.

JACKSONVILLE, FL — The Jacksonville Jaguars have released veteran quarterback David Garrard, a stunning move that will save the franchise $9 million this season.

Whether it saves coach Jack Del Rio’s job remains to be seen. Team owner Wayne Weaver has said Jacksonville needs to make the playoffs for Del Rio to stick around for a 10th season. Del Rio made it clear late last season that he had grown tired of Garrard’s inconsistent ways.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Former NBA player and Michigan State star Jay Vincent has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay more than $110,000 in restitution to the IRS for his part in a fraud scheme.

The 52-year-old Vincent received the sentence Friday in federal court in Grand Rapids. He pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges.

The government says he and an associate defrauded 20,000 people out of about $1 million by charging them to become certified home inspectors. Prosecutors recommended nine years in prison. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker sentenced Vincent to 68 months.

Former NBA star Magic Johnson wrote a letter to the judge asking for “mercy” for Vincent, calling his former college roommate “incredibly remorseful.”

Johnson and Vincent played on Michigan State’s 1979 national championship team.

DAEGU, South Korea — The United States won the women’s 4X100-meter relay Sunday at the World championships, with 100 gold medalist, Carmelita Jeter running the final leg.

The Americans, who won the World title in 2005 and ‘07, beat defending champion Jamaica down the stretch, winning in 41.56 seconds.

Jamaica was second in 41.70 and Ukraine took bronze in 42.51.

Bianca Knight ran the first leg and handed off to Allyson Felix, who won her record eighth World championship gold medal. Marshevet Myers ran the third leg and Jeter was last.

DAEGU, South Korea — Six days and a slow start later, Usain Bolt finally won gold at the World championships, running the fourth-fastest 200 meters in history to back up his showmanship with a stunning performance.

Bolt was slowest out of the blocks coming off his disqualification for a false start in the 100 final last Sunday that he blamed on “anxiety,” but drove through the bend and powered to the line in 19.40 seconds, just 0.21 seconds of the world record he set to win his first world title two years ago.