4 defining moments of Marty’s Hurney’s second stint as GM
By Dean Jones
Releasing Cam Newton
Cam Newton gave his body and soul to the Carolina Panthers during his time with the franchise. He revolutionized the position and transformed the organization from also-rans to legitimate Super Bowl contenders with a national focus for probably the first time in their history.
The Panthers selected Newton at No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft. He more than lived up to this billing during an exceptional career that also came with the MVP award in 2015. But injury and a new regime resulted in the signal-caller released earlier this offseason with little starting chances elsewhere.
How the Panthers treated Newton was atrocious.
And Marty Hurney deserves plenty of blame.
There are certain ways to go about things. Considering what Newton meant to everyone in Carolina things should have been dealt with more compassionately and at the very least, given the player a better chance to explore his options rather than take the first – and only offer – that came along.
Realistically speaking, Newton could have been released the moment Teddy Bridgewater signed his free-agent deal. Instead, they strung the iconic figure along and left the large majority of Carolina’s fanbase apoplectic with rage.