Ron Rivera gives opinion on Cam Newton’s future

Former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has had his say on why quarterback Cam Newton remains on the free-agent market.

The conversation regarding former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton seems to be accumulating more opinions with every passing day. He was released by the franchise in a bitter departure in terms of timing and the signal-caller remains on the free-agent scrapheap two months on.

One person who will know more about him than any other head coach in the NFL is Ron Rivera. And the new man leading the Washington Redskins had his say on why the 2015 NFL MVP remains unsigned following his departure from the Carolina Panthers.

Speaking on Fox Sports’ Football Now with Jay Glazer, Rivera highlighted Newton’s injury concerns as arguably the most prominent factor behind the player remaining unsigned at the present moment.

"“I think that’s probably the biggest thing, more than anything else. You’ve got to know. The foot and the shoulder will be the two biggest concerns everybody has. I will say this, though, from the people that are around him that I know, they’ve all said the same thing to me. They’ve said, ‘Coach, he looks great. He really does.’ And they also told me, ‘He’s a little bit different.’ His whole attitude — he’s got something to prove. And I will say this — the one thing about Cam Newton with an edge for something to prove, don’t ever bet against him.”"

There is no doubt that Newton is heading into the season with a huge chip on his shoulder. The player will no doubt feel slighted by the Panthers’ treatment after so many years of exceptional production. And there are many that question whether he still has what it takes to perform as a starter in the NFL.

This was highlighted by an anonymous general manager claiming Newton is “on the decline” last week. But if the signal-caller comes back strong and at full health then there is nothing suggest he couldn’t enjoy a renaissance in a different environment.

Will former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton dispel injury myth?

Things have not been easy for former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton regarding injuries in recent seasons. And the shoulder and foot problems that blighted his final two years with the organization remain a concern.

His task of putting other NFL teams’ questions to rest with independent medical evaluations has been severely hampered by social distancing measures in the current climate. There is hope that Newton can get some tests done when facilities reopen next month. But what sort of interest the player actually commands is another question entirely.

If Newton comes out of this offseason with a new home and with a real shot of making another go of his NFL career. It will be up to him to ensure he makes the opportunity count. He was still playing at a relatively high standard in 2018 before injuries began to take their toll. And if he returns to this sort of level then the quarterback is going to be of some use.

The fact Rivera hasn’t gambled on Newton is another telling factor. He might not have been there with the Panthers at the end of the campaign. But he was all-too-aware of the medical history surrounding the player before he was fired.

Instead, the head coach chose to trade for Kyle Allen, leaving Newton on the outside looking in. There doesn’t seem to be much doubt that a team will sign the former No. 1 overall pick in the near future. And this could be the catalyst behind him finally silencing the doubters.