Why Cam Newton is glad he returned to the Panthers and what he said about his future
Cam Newton said he is “absolutely” glad he returned to the Carolina Panthers for a second stint, even if it didn’t go as he had planned.
He said returning to the Panthers allowed him closure for how his first go-round ended.
“I think it was very meaningful for my life and my career,” Newton said. “I’ve learned so much about my life, this team and this season. I think it was very purposeful.”
The Panthers signed Newton a one-year deal Nov. 11 after quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a cracked shoulder blade. They signed him hoping he could help lead them to the playoffs.
But he and the Panthers’ offense struggled. Newton had to learn a new playbook in the middle of the year, coach Matt Rhule fired the team’s offensive coordinator after Newton’s third game. The offensive line struggled.
And in eight games and five starts, Newton threw for four touchdowns, five interceptions and ran for five touchdowns. He was 0-5 as a starter, and the Panthers lost their last seven consecutive games to finish the season 5-12.
Newton, who will now enter free agency, said he isn’t sure what’s next.
“I think I’ve proved to the people I need to prove to my worth, my value,” he said. “Do I have a lot of football? Do I want to play. Yeah. But under the right conditions. I really enjoy playing the game of football. “
Newton added that he’s looking for a situation where he can thrive. It’s unclear what direction the Panthers are heading in at quarterback. They started Sam Darnold the final two games of the season when he returned, and he’s owed $18.9 million next season.
But he’s struggled, too, and is not viewed as the franchise quarterback. In 12 games, Darnold threw nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He was 4-7 as a starter. Getting the starting quarterback situation corrected is going to be a priority for Rhule this offseason.
Newton said he’s willing to be a starter or a backup, as long as he’s in a situation where the team is there to win. He’s not worried about money.
“At this point forward I’m not coming back for no 5-12,” Newton said. “Being the starter or not, if it’s about winning, I’m with it.”
Rhule has not said whether the Panthers would consider bringing Newton back, but it appears he’s likely played his final game in a Panthers uniform. Newton played in only two snaps the final two games and didn’t use him even in situations where he would have had the advantage.
“For Matt Rhule, I would have Cam Newton on my team forever,” Rhule said Monday. “The business part of it, I can’t speak to that.”
The Panthers had fourth-and-inches from the Tampa Bay 2-yard line, with 5 minutes left in the second quarter. Instead of putting in Newton, the Panthers opted to go with a quarterback sneak with Darnold.
When asked about it, Newton said it was the coach’s decision.
“Me talking about that, it doesn’t do any good,” Newton said. “I know my skill set is way better than a fourth-and-inches type of person. However you want to look at it, coach made the decision he made.
“I stick by it ... That wasn’t the reason that we lost.”
Newton also expressed disappointment in not being able to help Charlotte and Panthers fans win and build sustained success. When he arrived, he assured fans in his first press conference that he was here “to bring the pride back to the Carolinas.”
That didn’t happen.
“Finding ways to win, that’s what this city needs, that what the states need, and hopefully they get it sooner rather than later,” Newton said.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Why Cam Newton is glad he returned to the Panthers and what he said about his future."
