Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton referred to himself as "an entertainer and an icon" during an interview with Sports Illustrated's Peter King.

Newton might want to skip that line in his next round of interviews - with NFL coaches and general managers - beginning today at the scouting combine.

While the 40-yard dashes and shuttle drills provide the NFL Network plenty of mid-day programming, the most important conversations and evaluations will take place behind closed doors in hotel rooms in downtown Indianapolis.

None of the 330 players at the combine figure to be scrutinized as closely or intensely as Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner whose character was in question long before he made his icon comment. While at Florida, where he was Tim Tebow's backup, Newton was found with a stolen laptop and left school amid allegations of academic fraud.

Then the NCAA determined Cecil Newton had shopped his son to Mississippi State for $180,000 in a pay-for-play deal. But Newton's eligibility was not affected, and he took 14-0 Auburn to the national championship with a strong but erratic arm and a running ability seldom seen in a 6-6, 240-pound package.

Newton's performance in a private workout two weeks ago in California prompted many draft analysts to move him into the top five in their mock drafts. Whether Newton will continue to climb draft boards - including that of the Panthers, who hold the No. 1 pick - will depend in part on whether he can convince coaches and general managers he won't embarrass their organization.

"That's the biggest question or issue in the draft right now because I don't think anyone really knows," said Todd McShay, the ESPN/Scouts Inc. analyst.

"According to everyone I talk to, it's a matter of continuing to dive deeper into his background, gather more information. One GM I talked to recently said, 'Our team's not in the quarterback hunt right now. But if we were, I'd be in this kid's hip pocket every single day between now and the end of the draft.'"

Newton is not the only player whose baggage will be checked in Indy. North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, two of his UNC teammates - Marvin Austin and Greg Little - and South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders will face questions about accepting improper benefits from agents.

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett will have to address a 2009 public intoxication arrest and other off-the-field concerns.

"Eighty percent of the combine, in terms of value to teams, comes from the medical exams and the interview process, getting to know these guys," McShay said.

In addition to less formal conversations, teams are allowed to meet privately with 60 players for 15 minutes apiece. The meetings take place over the next five nights in a hotel where all 32 teams have their own rooms. An air horn sounds when the 15 minutes are up.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said teams gather as much information as they can in the allotted time.

"It's a time to be able to ask questions and get some answers from some of the draft-eligible players. It's just a piece of the puzzle," Hurney said. "I think it's very important that you don't eliminate anybody this early in the process."

The process continues in March at pro days at individual schools, where Hurney said the Panthers try to nail down anything left unanswered at the combine.

Referring to the vetting process, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says teams have to "grind" some players - parlance that evokes images of a meat-grinder.

Whether Newton emerges from the grinder as a burgeoning icon or fading prospect could be determined by what transpires in the minutes between the air horns this week in Indy.

"There are two questions to Cam Newton. He comes out of a very simple pass offense at Auburn. Basically, one look, and either the ball comes out or he comes out (of the pocket)," Mayock said. "Can he process, from an IQ perspective, a complicated NFL pass offense? That is No. 1. And No. 2, there's some baggage to the kid. We've got to figure that out."