NFL
Cam Newton returns to Carolina to “win football games”
Cam Newton is floating over his return to Charlotte after joining the Panthers Thursday and isn’t here for a Cinderella story. “It’s to win football games.”
Carolina Panthers’ former MVP QB Cam Newton spoke to the media for the first time on Friday, and shared how he wants to make an impact that brings the pride back to Carolina.
Newton expressed that he has “so much gratitude” for returning back to this team, and that God has granted him an opportunity that not a lot of people get.
“Honestly, I’m still floating,” Newton said of his return to the Panthers. “But it’s not about me. It’s about being an additional piece to this team and that’s where I plan on keeping it.”
When asked why Newton returned to Carolina, the veteran quarterback expressed that the Panthers checked every requirement he had on his list of NFL teams: 1) they’re contenders, 2) the chances for him to compete so late in the season are high, and 3) the skillset around him allows him to grow and show his talents as well. “Check, check, check. It was a no-brainer. Obviously there was the added dimension where, the familiarity here.”
Panthers former MVP QB is back
The Panthers have been struggling with starting quarterback Sam Darnold as he’s been battling a shoulder injury that still has him sidelined for a few weeks now.
Following Darnold’s injury, Carolina went shopping for a new quarterback, signing Matt Barkley earlier in the week and then signing Newton on Thursday.
Newton’s splash made a little more noise as his return to Charlotte felt personal to Panthers and their fans; from 2011-19 he led Carolina to Super Bowl 50 and won more than one award with the franchise.
See Also:
Cam Newton is ready to "get to work"
Although Newton understands that fans are excited for his return and that social media is blowing up over having him home, the former MVP did not feel shy to express the real reason why he’s here, apart from all the public relations noise:
““You know why I’m here. This ain’t for no ploy, no ticket sales or Cinderella story. It’s to win football games,” Newton said. “I just want everybody to know who is a part of the Panthers nation, I receive it. But this ain’t no parade. Let’s get to work.”
Cam Newton on Panthers’ release in 2020: “irrelevant”
It is no surprise that Newton was asked about how he feels regarding his release from the Panthers in 2020, but his right-to-the-point response could’ve been a surprise to some people, given that the Panthers cut him after failing to find a trade partner last year.
Newton showed a forward attitude when he mentioned that all things of his past were “irrelevant” and that he had a really good conversation with head coach Matt Rhule.
Even with Newton’s injuries in the past year, coach Rhule does not seem worried about his physical ability, but he’s rather “excited to see what he does.”
Newton wants to bring the pride back to Carolina
Newton shared that the biggest impact he wants to bring to the Panthers is team accountability, “I’m holding myself accountable to make sure that I do anything coach (Matt) Rhule asks of me, as well as coach Joe Brady,” Newton said. “Making sure that if they can trust me being a trusted teammate, then I can hold everybody else accountable, from P.J. (Walker) to Matt (Barkley) to even Sam (Darnold).”
Newton goes on to explain that this type of situation can be confusing, but his mental intention is to “bring the pride back to Carolina in ways that I know how and others know how too. It’s just making sure that we maximize each and every day.”