"Can an NFL rookie quarterback help persuade a mercurial 10-year veteran who is thinking about leaving his team to stick around instead?

That's what new Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is trying to do with wide receiver Steve Smith. Newton openly lobbied for Smith to stay with the team Friday at Smith's football camp at Ardrey Kell High in Charlotte, which Newton showed up to work at Smith's request.

During a question-and-answer session with approximately 260 campers, Newton was asked which team he had wanted to be drafted by in April. Newton said he wanted to be the No.1 draft pick, so he had hoped Carolina would take him. Then he volunteered: "And I wanted to have someone great to throw it to and I knew Steve Smith was here, right?"

Newton flashed his megawatt smile then as Smith and the kids laughed.

Later at the camp, both Newton and Smith talked with the media at separate times. I mentioned to Newton that his answer to the kids sounded like he wanted Smith to stay.

"That's how y'all got it?" Newton said playfully. "That was the message - and I'm just going to leave it at that. Hopefully he got the message - and the memo, too.""