Cam Newton is proving that winning is everything
By Dean Jones
Is Cam Newton making the Carolina Panthers look bad?
The Carolina Panthers had every right to move on from Cam Newton. But the way they handled the situation this offseason still leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
And Newton has set his sights on making them pay.
Imagine the uproar if No. 1 made it to the playoffs while the Panthers were staring at another high-end draft pick after a campaign full of ups and downs. This was a brand-new roster that lost some prominent locker room leaders who had been crucial to Carolina’s success in the 2010s – and making so many changes all at once was a bold strategy to go with.
It would pile even more pressure on the likes of Matt Rhule, owner David Tepper, and general manager Marty Hurney to get things right sooner rather than later to avoid even more murmurings of discontent.
Of course, there is also Teddy Bridgewater to consider.
The free-agent signing has done well, for the most part. But his limitations are there for all to see and it will be up to the former Louisville standout to improve his consistency in a bid to win people around.
Newton might not get doing much through the air.
But he doesn’t need to.
The Patriots know what they have in the Auburn product and are playing to his strengths. This has New England at 6-6 and with every chance of securing a playoff berth that would go down as one of his greatest ever accomplishments.
Newton is playing with a smile on his face again. And after everything the transcendent talent has been through, few would begrudge him that.