Cam Newton comment on team chemistry sparks debate, raises question

Cam Newton inadvertently sparked a debate about the Carolina Panthers team talent this week.

Cam Newton has enjoyed an enormous amount of success during a relatively brief career. The Carolina Panthers quarterback entered the league as a No. 1 overall selection during the 2011 NFL Draft and has never looked back. Despite an over abundance of critics, Newton has always marched to the beat of his own drum while proving he should be considered among the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.

In seven-plus seasons, Newton has won Rookie of the Year, a league MVP, earned three Pro Bowl nominations and led Carolina to a 71-51-1 record with him under center – all while setting numerous records for quarterbacks and revolutionizing the position. His Panthers have won three divisional titles, earned four playoff appearances and reached the Super Bowl during the 2015 season.

Obviously Newton is only a part of this overall success, albeit an extremely important one, but which team during his career has been the best and most talented? This is the question that was raised following a comment by Newton during his weekly press conference.

"“Harmony is everything. Chemistry is everything. This may not be the best or most talented team that I’ve probably ever been on, but it’s getting up there with guys that are really meshing and linking up perfectly.”"

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An honest assessment meant to diagnose the current situation, Carolina is 6-2 but one game back in the NFC South. However, it raised the immediate question of if we are witnessing the most talented team in Newton’s career.

There are other front-runners in this category considering the 2015 team comprised a 15-1 regular season record and reached the Super Bowl. In 2013, Carolina finished 12-4, winning the division before losing 23-10 to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round.

But not only did the comment spark a debate about team talent, it also raised a question surrounding left tackle Matt Kalil. The Panthers highest paid lineman has been sidelined with a knee injury since the preseason but was eligible to return this week.

Playing on Thursday night, coach Ron Rivera decided Kalil would not be activated from the injured reserve list but given how well his replacement, Chris Clark, has played to this point – any future change is going to be questioned.

Newton potentially alluded to this situation by discussing the “harmony” and “chemistry” he and this team currently possess.

The debate about which Newton-led Panthers team is the best or most talented continues because no one knows what the future has in store for this 2018 edition.

However, if Newton hoists the Lombardi trophy in February then the question of talented may remain but there will be no arguing over the best.