Did the Carolina Panthers give up too soon on Cam Newton?

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has signed for the New England Patriots, but did they give up on him too soon?

The Carolina Panthers took the decision to release star quarterback Cam Newton in favor of going in a different direction this offseason. It is a move that has divided opinion among the team’s loyal fanbase. And this situation has only heightened after the 2015 NFL MVP finally found a new home.

Newton signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots that could be worth $7.5 million if he reaches his targets. This seems to be a win-win situation for both parties. And the player might even get the chance to make an unlikely starting spot his own from day one.

This is something that seemed inconceivable given the timing of his release by the Carolina Panthers. But the signal-caller deserves credit for biding his time, remaining dignified, and taking a good chance when the opportunity presented itself.

The player posted an Instagram workout post with the damning quote “they gave up on me”. This indicated in no uncertain terms that Newton felt he deserved another shot at turning around the fortunes of the franchise. And this enormous chip on his shoulder could be the catalyst for a second coming in a different uniform.

One could argue that Carolina did give up a little too easily on Newton. The player met expectations and more after he came in as the No. 1 overall pick out of Auburn in 2011. So he deserved better treatment throughout this whole process.

There is a flip side to this coin. Newton has suffered some serious injuries during his final two years in Carolina. And the new regime would have been gambling an awful lot on the player only for him to miss even more time with another knock.

Teddy Bridgewater is a more than capable starter in the NFL. He has worked hard to earn another starting opportunity after a devastating leg injury. And it is hard to root against him after all he has been through.

That being said, Newton was a transcendent talent that propelled the Panthers to superstardom. He clearly looks fit and raring to go on his social media posts. And this was something that convinced the Patriots to bring him as a potential replacement for Tom Brady.

Carolina’s fans idolized Newton. So their reaction to his messy release was understandable. Only time will tell as to whether or not this was for the greater good. And this will probably not be determined until two or three years down the line.

Did the Carolina Panthers give up too early on Cam Newton?

The organization gave Newton every chance to make a successful recovery. Some might argue that this came at a significant cost to their fortunes over the last two seasons.

With a new regime comes new ideas. And the simple fact is that the Panthers needed a more accurate passer distributing the ball in Joe Brady’s exciting new scheme.

This left Newton on the outside looking in. And this is something you see every year in the NFL following a change in leadership. It has been especially heightened given the player’s status within the league. But those who say this sort of scenario is uncommon in the NFL is kidding themselves.

The Panthers did not give up too soon on Newton. A fresh start from top to bottom is something that was desperately needed. And although his status with the franchise will live through the ages. It was best for both the organization and the player to go their separate ways.