Why did the Panthers release Cam Newton? Looking back at Carolina’s decision to cut ties with QB franchise

By all accounts, Cam Newton is the biggest character in the history of the Panthers franchise.

He was the franchise’s first overall pick, and he instantly turned the Panthers’ organization around. Following the 2-14 campaign, where Carolina was 212 points behind her opponent, the new attack led by Newton looked quite different.

Not once when Newton was a full-back had scored less than 330 points in a season – the Panthers had scored more than 330 points just once in the previous five seasons. Newton took them to the knockout stages four times, including a Super Bowl, single-handedly doubling the NFC Championship and the playoffs the franchise has. He’s the only NFL MVP in franchise history, and when he left Carolina, he was the franchise’s leader in passing touchdowns, hasty touches, and long passes.

Of course, it all begs the question: why was he even debuting in the first place?

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As Newton prepares to begin his return to Carolina for the first time since 2019, Sporting News is revisiting his release.

Why did the Panthers release Cam Newton?

When the Panthers brought Newton back, head coach Matt Rhule was open about his decision to cut the longtime franchise midfield franchise in 2020.

“I won’t go into the specifics of our conversation but Cam Newton is a professional. We made football decisions at the time based on his health. We did not. sure how is his health We have to make a decision when the time comes and Cam understands that He understands that these are football decisions and judgments based on football that you have to make Nothing but a friendly chat,” said Rhule, by All Panthers. “At the time, we weren’t sure if he was healthy. Whenever you look back at the things you’ve always said, I wish I could have done this a little differently but nothing but feelings. good touch in that conversation.”

To better understand what led to the separation, it’s important to look back at his time in Charlotte since he was first enlisted in 2011.

He has exploded in his rookie year, starting all 16 games and passing 4,051 yards with 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while rushing 126 times for 14 touchdowns and 706 metres. This season brought him the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. He continued to perform well for the Panthers, leading them to a 7-9 record in 2012, 12-4 in 2013 before stumbling briefly in 2015 5-8-1.

Newton’s breakout MVP and NFC championship season are among the things NFL fans can definitely see coming. While low interception and completion rates indicate concerns about accuracy, Newton’s dual threat ability defied expectations previously posed for mobile quarterbacks and showed a The potential few in the NFL have been reached.

In 2015, the groundbreaking campaign arrived. He made 35 touchdowns, threw 10 interceptions, had 3,837 yards of passes, and a completion rate of 59.8%. He also hurled 132 times with 636 yards and 10 more points.

But after the 15-1 season, Newton was in trouble. He ended the 2016 season with a career-low 52.9 completion rate, with 19 touchdowns, 3,509 passes, 14 interceptions, 90 attempts, 359 dashes and five touchdowns. hurry. He improved his play in 2017 and in 2018 he compiled the best individual season since 2015 – ending with a career-best 67.9 completion rate – but the team is still limping with a record of 6-8.

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However, there have been signs towards the end of the 2018 season that difficulties and injuries are possible. In weeks 10 to 15, Newton had nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, with 1,502 yards of passes. He also dabbled less, as he attempted just 28 runs for 146 yards with no points in those six games. After Week 15, he was revealed to have been dealing with a shoulder injury and missed the remaining two games of the season before undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season.

Newton appeared in just two games in 2019 before he was included in IR for a Lisfranc fracture. His last appearance in the Panther uniform was in Week 2 on September 12, 2019.

At the time, Newton, who was 30 years old, was showing signs of both regression and potential injuries. As a midfielder who is somewhat dangerous for his feet, Newton is considered a potentially risky bet.

Newton is about to enter the final year of the five-year extension he signed in 2015 prior to his MVP campaign, and while he wants another extension to stay in Carolina, the organization is clearly not enamored with the idea. this.

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But it’s not just about injuries and inconsistencies. Carolina is a franchise in transition. David Tepper bought the team in 2018 and is overhauling the organization. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired before the end of the 2019 campaign, and in January former Baylor coach Matt Rhule was brought on as the team’s coach. Rhule has invited new coaches, including former LSU pass game coordinator Joe Brady, to mold the offense.

The Panthers tried to trade with Newton for some form of return on the franchise quarterback, but the free agent market was flooded with quarterback agents, including Tom Brady, which ultimately paid off. eliminate several potential suitors for a transaction. The Panthers announced on March 24, 2020, that Newton would be released. The next day, they announced that they had brought in Teddy Bridgewater.

“Oranges mean a lot to this organization and the Carolinas,” general manager Marty Hurney said in a statement. “Everybody has seen his performance on the pitch. I have had the honor of witnessing how hard he worked on the pitch, and his commitment to this team when no one else was available. track. He is the ultimate competitor and he will be physically hurt. He wants this team to win on many occasions and will always be considered one of the greatest players. in the history of this franchise. His contributions to this team, this community and the game of football will leave a lasting impact on our organization.”