Marvin Lewis: Cam Newton is a great NFL prospect

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis is not buying into the criticism of top NFL draft prospect Cam Newton.

Lewis told the team's website that he's very impressed with Newton, and thinks the Heisman winner has the makeup to be a top-flight NFL quarterback.

"He's got 'it,' " Lewis said, referencing the "it" factor in question around Newton.

"In Cam's case, he's been 'it' three times," Lewis said of Newton's collegiate journeys. "He went to Gainesville that way with that kind of fanfare. He went to Blinn Junior College where he had to slink down as low as he could go. He came out of it that way and went to Auburn that way. Now he comes into the NFL. He's kind of had that 'it,' been that kind of guy for awhile."

Scrutiny of Newton has been intense since Pro Football Weekly's draft analysis of the Auburn product last month questioned his makeup. The analysis said Newton was "very disingenuous" with a "fake smile" and claimed that he would not "command respect from teammates and always will struggle to win a locker room."

The Bengals -- with QB Carson Palmer threatening to retire if he isn't traded -- could be looking at a QB with the fourth overall pick.

But Lewis told Bengals.com he has been impressed with Newton's ability to bounce back.

"He's gone through some adversity that's been created around him," Lewis said. "Some self-inflicted at times. Probably some inflicted by the environment around him at times. Some made up, probably. But whatever it is, he's been successful. He shoulders responsibilities and he's done well with it."