Just after he signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, his original NFL team, quarterback Cam Newton held a press conference. The. As columnist Scott Fowler wrote today, this being Newton's last. One quarterback that wasn't expected to be released on Tuesday was former Panther, Cam Newton. The Panthers are in trouble again this season. After that one brilliant Sunday in Arizona when he declared "I'm back," and the following week against Washington when it looked like he was, his game has not been the same. He was the preeminent alpha male in a locker room full of alpha males. Sam Darnold will start and may play the whole game unless he gets hurt. The Panthers were impressed with the Alabama quarterback after meeting him this week, and they've acknowledged the possibility of trading up to get in position for him. Scott Fowler is a national award-winning sports columnist for The Charlotte Observer. Part of me believes that there is still some juice left in the tank. A less charitable reading says that the Saints dismissed Newton out of hand in favor of starting either Trevor Siemian or Taysom Hill. Inaugural Keep Pounding High School Classic features Northwestern High School and Providence Day School. Remember when he got destroyed in the Super Bowl and the narrative was, he WILL be back and multiple times? Please logout and login again. I loved his energy and he was so fun to watch. NowNewton's Panthers tenure is over after nine years. But in the NFL it rarely happens that way. With NFL coaching, perhaps Richardson can become a great quarterback like his idol and frequent comparison, Cam Newton. And that's hard for a lot of people. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? Newton was entering the final season of the five-year contract extension he signed in the summer of 2015, months before he led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50. "I was able to walk away unscathed. He made the Carolina Panthers relevant and impacted so many young fans and athletes. NFL.com reports Newton, if active, could play in a small package of plays. Here are the best players to fit their needs, The Carolina Panthers will lose their voice tonight, and with it leaves a legacy, Panthers-Buccaneers live updates: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay shred Carolina in season finale, Cam Newtons last game with the Panthers shows, once again, that the NFL isnt fair, More than 20 Panthers could play their last games today. Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said he wasn't ready to commit to a starter for next week at New Orleans, but he also said he didn't want to put Newton out there Sunday for a ceremonial curtain call, saying he respected him too much as a competitor for that. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. The Bridgewater signing comes withcap number of $14 million for 2020, so with Newton included,the Panthers would have had$35.1 million on the books for a pair of quarterbacks, one of which was not in the plans for the future. Translation: Carolina instantly became Rhule's team. In fantasy football, you never know who lands up in the top 10 at the end of the league, but these four options seem promising if you need a backup QB. The quarterback reportedly suffered the injury in a win vs. the Falcons, but played through it the following week in a loss to the Patriots. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Sports columnist Scott Fowler has written for The Charlotte Observer since 1994. Updated. "With the arrival of the Panthers in 1995, he changed the . This has led to questions from fans and media alike. Of course, I thought that two years ago, too, when the Panthers tried to trade Newton shortly after head coach Matt Rhule got to Charlotte and then released him outright while signing Teddy Bridgewater. An All-Pro nod. He's experienced enough, and aware enough, to know what it sounded like. That person is none other than Cam Newton. "He's all about what's next and what he wants to do. MORE:Why Cam Newton is the Patriots' best option to replace Tom Brady. He's choosing not to sign anywhere yet so he can make a fully informed decision about his future . "Growing up, it was always . While the Panthers have PJ Walker and just-signed backup Matt Barkley on hand, the addition of Newton brings experience to an offense that already has plenty of weapons. Newton, who finished 21 of 37 for 233 yards with one touchdown and an early interception in the red zone, said he doesn't know why the Panthers can't win close games. Cant wait to see what outfits he wears in retirement. Speculation about teams not being keen on his big personality making things difficult for their starting option was asinine. Cam Newton leaps in the air as he rushes the ball during the game against the Giants on Sun., Oct. 7, 2018. On Friday, shortly after he . The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation supported the first-of-its-kind in Mecklenburg County project, which offers urgent care for behavioral health needs. 3-4-1 record. But the player didnt do enough to completely remove Darnold from the equation and has been searching for a new home ever since. This is not the Cam Newton Cam Newton's used to seeing. Just finding a job was not enough for the 2015 NFL MVP, who was looking for the right fit to start or land a backup role within an organization that possessed legitimate chances of contending. On the sideline, I had a moment where you look back over the year at guys who taught you, Newton said afterward. The Panthers, for business reasons in what fundamentally is an entertainment business, were a good option. Eli Manning, Giants. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, a selection Carolina had acquired after finishing2010with a 2-14 record. It has been a wonderful career that seems to have had an unfavorable culmination, one that fans will continue to ponder, what-if?. 1 draft pick, The door likely slams shut on Cam Newton, with the Panthers or any team, Report: Derek Carr wants $35 million per year, The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy: Kellen Moore wants to light the scoreboard up, I want to run the damn ball, ESPN reiterates report that Lamar Jackson wants a fully-guaranteed deal, Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter for reckless driving, racing, Aaron Rodgers says hell make a decision soon enough, Competition Committee begins to explore the quarterback push play, Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFLs worst training staff, Report: Jalen Carter was present at teammates fatal crash, misled police about it. And now he's in this spot. Cam Newton, after playing his ninth season with the Panthers, was released after suffering a series of injuries that led to him missing most of the game for the Panthers in 2019. But that would have felt gratuitous, Rhule said later, intimating that Newton wanted no part of such a gesture. This team wants to win. So did Newton, who kept pounding and brought the energy to Bank of America Stadium on a more consistent basis than anyone else ever did. We're running our offense and Cam's going to come in and do what we do, but right now we're just focused on this game we're not looking ahead to anything right now.". Despite the firing of coach Rhule, what could the franchise do to boost fan morale and bring them back to Bank of America Stadium? And just as quickly as New England cut him, he's back in action, though Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Friday it's "not very likely" Newton plays. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) leaps over center Ryan Kalil (67) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) and strong safety Tony Jefferson (22) to score on a 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter during the NFC Championship game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Jan 24, 2016. Newton has tried to get back into the league after leaving the Patriots before the start of the season, even getting the COVID-19 vaccine to make himself more marketable to teams that may have a quarterback need. He suffered a Lisfranc injury on a sack that ultimately ended his time with the Panthers in the first go around. He reflected on his 2015 season, when he was the best player in football and led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The Buccaneers signed Tom Brady. Goodbye again, Cam. Under the ownership of David Tepper, who purchased the team in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of former owner and team founder Jerry Richardson, Carolina is experiencing a complete organizational overhaul. This reminds me of Cam Newton in his prime. Cam looked pretty good the 1st week as a starter for NE against Seattle but was awful from that point on. Does Cam Newton still have what it takes to be a starter in the. Learn how your comment data is processed. Carolina Panthers news fromFanSided Daily, 4 Panthers players who havent matched offseason hype in 2022, 4 changes making a big difference for Panthers under Steve Wilks, didnt rule out the prospect of Newton coming back, reportedly willing to accept on the right franchise, 4 former Panthers players that should follow Jeff Saturday's lead, Bowling Green vs. Toledo Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 12, Watch: Carolina Panthers legend tackles insane military obstacle course, Robbie Anderson aiming to put Panthers nightmare behind him, 3 reasons why the Dallas Cowboys should call Cam Newton. Cam Newton was seen as raw coming out of Auburn, and he still went No. "I started calling myself Cam Jackson in 11th grade. But it has been mostly potholes and roadblocks since. Tepper in January hired Matt Rhule to replace Rivera as Panthers coach, and in doing so, the team owner took a significant leap of faith. You guessed it. 5:26 PM on Mar 2, 2023 CST. Many times those are the same thing. According to a report from Ian Rapoport, Newton's contract is structured to give him $6 million in guaranteed money $4.5 million fully guaranteed and a $1.5 million roster bonus. Newton has been a free agent since August. A post shared by Cam Newton (@cameron1newton) on Aug 27, 2019 at 10:23am PDT. Days after signing the franchise's all-time passing leader, Newton is active for Carolina in his return to the. His career is over. Thats not much of a fitting ending, and thats only if he gets to play at all. Friday was a walkthrough, and Saturday was slightly more intense. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. According to Ian Rapoport on Friday, the Auburn Heisman winner's injured foot is "not getting better," and that "playing football is a long way off." Walking into an offense with talented targets such as Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore and Robby Anderson could allow for a quick transition, and the familiarity with the first two can only help. "I started calling myself Cam Jackson in 11th grade," Richardson said Friday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Right now, 2023 NFL draft prospect Anthony Richardson is a self-salesman as much as he is a quarterbackeven if that means putting himself above his childhood idol. There is the argument that Newton could return with some time to prepare and potentially be half the signal-caller he was before the injuries began to take their toll. So why is Cam so "Quentin-esque," you ask? Nothing lasts forever and father time waits for no man. Including Cam Newton. Arriving so late and learning on the fly were significant obstacles to overcome. This story was originally published January 9, 2022, 6:45 AM. His return was well-highlighted after the first couple of. In truth, the typical NFL quarterback is a big person. But circumstances change. Newton brought much-needed energy to a Panthers team (5-5) that had lost five of its past six games and faced long odds against the Cardinals, who entered the day with an NFL-best 8-1 record. Newton had gotten benched in that 32-6 loss and stood alone at the 25-yard line for most of the fourth quarter, hands clasped behind his back, watching the rest of the contest. 3 reasons Carolina's QB move became inevitable, Why the Redskins' rumored interest in Cam Newton makes sense, Why Cam Newton is the Patriots' best option to replace Tom Brady. And it does feel unfair sometimes. I like to think of Cam as the quarterback in his prime in Carolina who visited a dying boys Halloween party and brought an ice cream truck with him. Newton screamed Im B-A-A-A-CK! after accounting for two touchdowns on his first two plays at Arizona Nov. 14, and life briefly felt like a fairy tale again. The Panthers couldn't trade Cam Newton Carolina failed to find a team willing to trade for Newton for two reasons: the quarterback's health issues that contributed to the Panthers'. Cam Newton probably didn't take off his helmet Sunday and yell to the crowd "I'm benched!" Two weeks after the former NFL MVP had declared "I'm back" after scoring a touchdown in his return to. The most pressing question now becomes whether Newton, who hasn't taken a snap since preseason, will be able to suit up against Arizona, let alone start. Such savings areidealfor a franchise looking to rebuild its roster, but they became vital when the Panthers signed Bridgewater. Hell be broke in a couple of years, hes still better than Geno Smith, Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill. Those boil down to either Fix Darnold or Get Someone New or, more likely, trying to do both at the same time. He completed just 53.8 percent of his passes. They understood what Keep Pounding meant, Newton said. Your login session has expired. See video, posts and updates straight from Indianapolis as Panthers leaders speak to the media. "I'm just so let down because the city of Charlotte's been good to me. It didn't generate many wins. But while the 44-year-old Brady never seems to age, Newton has looked a like a man whose play is not what it was. 1 pick. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 49-15. He then hired Joe Brady, a young-but-quickly rising assistant who helped LSU and Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow earna national championship last season, asoffensive coordinator. The founder and former owner of the Panthers passed away on Wednesday night. Three Pro Bowl selections. The Panthers are cutting him loose. It will feel unfair Sunday, when the quarterback almost certainly closes the door on Cam Newton 2.0 with the Panthers in Tampa Bay (4:25 p.m. kickoff, CBS). There was so much potential for the Heisman Trophy winner to be one of the more successful players the league has ever seen. The move might beshocking to those who havenot been monitoring recent developments in Carolina, but it had become an inevitability. Im telling you, you cant make up a lie this good, Newton said at the time. It is best to look for other alternatives for the QB2 position. Of all the knocks surrounding Newton fair or otherwise throughout his career, one thing that cannot be disputed is leadership and the esteem in which the quarterback is held among his peers. Something Panthers fans need to realize, even with the injuries and uncertainty across the organization. Carolina failed to find a team willing to trade for Newton for two reasons:the quarterback'shealth issues that contributed to the Panthers' decision to part with him in the first place, and the surprising lack of a market for a starting quarterback in 2020. And that's what he wants to do, that's where I am, and that's where this team is. Cam was overrated most of his career. If Newton plays well this season, he would become the favorite to be Carolina's starting quarterback in 2022.". Simply put, Cam Newton is where he is today because his body could not exactly withstand everything the Panthers asked it to. Come back and see us sometime. In releasing Newton, Carolina save$19.1 million in salary cap space while taking on a dead cap charge of just $2 million for 2020. The trade for Baker Mayfield likely slams that door shut. That's always been the guy I looked up to." When asked if he is a better thrower of the football coming out of college than . Where is Cam Newton now? Even if Newton is well past his prime and no longer the same player he was four years ago. At the same time, you're trying to build a Super Bowl-caliber team. Also, later in this article, fantasy football lovers will get to know whether Newton should be in their 2022 fantasy football draft. The Panther signed Cam Newton out of necessity after starting quarterback Sam Darnold was listed out for the foreseeable future with a fractured right shoulder blade. Despite that, he remains unsigned just a week away from the NFL's opening Sunday. A post shared by Kyle Allen (@kyle_allen) on Oct 27, 2019 at 9:01am PDT. Newton has started 139 games in the NFL, including 15 last year for the Patriots after his nine years in Charlotte, an era that included a Super Bowl run in 2015. They want to win now, they want to win this year, and they want to win next year. Yeah, that kid warming up in the commercial laughs at that too. He is revered in the locker room because he is a consummate professional day in and day out, bonds easily with his teammates, and is the unquestioned leader on the field. Though the Panthers have (likely strategically) noted Newton will be ready for training camp, if not earlier, the quarterbackis still recovering from foot surgery after a Lisfranc injury limited his 2019 season to just two games. The Patriots cut Newton, the N.F.L. And when it doesn't happen, like right now, you feel empty. I thought the Panthers should have stuck Newton out there for a play or two deep in the fourth quarter against Tampa Bay, then called timeout, brought him back off the field and let the fans applaud him. (Kirby Lee/NFL). . Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson speaks during a news conference for the NFL football team in Charlotte, N.C., Jan. 15, 2013. Cam Newton, a former NFL MVP and first overall pick, may not be the quality starter he was a few years ago. Remember when he got destroyed in the Super Bowl and the narrative was, he WILL be back and multiple times? "Hell, I want better.". That kind of self-doubt is not what we're used to hearing from Newton. Ended with a 85.2 QBR. That deal, if it comes, will probably be elsewhere as a backup. "My job is to try to win right now," Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday afternoon. Its been complicated at times, but overall its been a blast. It was a difficult situation for Newton. Placed on IR (foot) Matthew Stafford, Lions. He had a 33-yard run against the Bucs and showed he can still make plays in that part of the game, but it's not working in the passing game, which is why Darnold was playing. Thats fine. drewlockrocks says: Rhule hiredPhil Snow, his right-hand man throughthe duo'sprevious stops at Baylor and Temple, as defensive coordinator. The distraction is not just welcome, it's intoxicating, and in two. Head coach Frank Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer plan on speaking with the veteran quarterback again next week after Tuesday's meeting in Indianapolis. Cam Newton and Julius Peppers laugh on the sidelines during a week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Free agent quarterback Cam Newton hasn't signed with a team yet, but it's not for lack of offers. Chances are low that Newton will return to the league this year, so drafting him into your fantasy team does not sound like a good idea. The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded. His impact is still being felt today off the field. 's most valuable player in 2015, as they began paring their roster to the league-mandated 53 players before Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. Not a member? However until proven otherwise, I cant bring myself to that notion. Instead of opting for Newton, there are many options available, with Justin Fields, Jameis Winston, Tua Tagovailoa, and Trevor Lawrence. Steve Smith visits Cam Newton during Panthers practice on Thursday, September 6, 2018. "But I'm going to look that lion in the eyeball, and not blink.". Newtonimmediately becamefree to sign with another team as a free agent. Then theres the fact that Newton cant really be just a guy on the depth chart. There is a lot of confusion going on among fantasy football players on whether to keep Newton on their fantasy roster. Sporting News breaks down whether Newton will be able to take the field on Sunday vs. the Cardinals: Newton is expected to be active, according to Ian Rapoport, though coach Matt Rhule said it's not likely Newton plays vs. the Cardinals on Sunday. Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich also touched on other needs the team has, and what the priorities are for the coming weeks during their interviews at the combine. This is about now, and maximizing the opportunity for the 2021 Panthers. The Cam Newton experiment and reunion mostly bombed for the Carolina Panthers last season, enough to the point that one would rationally believe the team would have less than zero interest in bringing him back in 2022. He took more hits than any quarterback during his time and it wasn't particularly close. There was opportunities for us to move the ball.". Last year, the Panthers brought back quarterback Cam Newton for a second stint. Father time has caught up though and he is no longer good enough, Got alligator arms in the Super Bowl and has always been more concerned about what hat and outfit he wears than actually trying to be a professional. The Chargers reportedly decided they would not pursue a quarterback in free agency or a trade, sticking with Tyrod Taylor (and likely a high draft pick), instead. Newton won't start for Carolina in Week 17. Carolina earned high marks in several key areas in survey, which rated various aspects of players' experience from strength coaches and the locker room to treatment of families. Cam Newton contract details: How much is Panthers QB making in 2021. I hope Newton does at least get into this game. And clearly, the opportunity is there for this to make a significant impact. Newton recently made the case to still be a starter. Scott Fitterer told #PFTPM that Newton could possibly return again to the Panthers.