Will Cam Newton accept David Tepper’s offer to retire as a Panther?
By Dean Jones
Will Cam Newton retire as a Panther?
This is something that absolutely needs to happen.
And hopefully, there will be enough water under the bridge by this point to ensure Cam Newton gets the send-off he deserves.
The Carolina Panthers need to reach out when the time is right. Newton should also put his pride aside for the good of the fans who once idolized him for almost a decade before eventually walking away from the game he revolutionized for a brief period.
David Tepper laid the foundations with his statement during Greg Olsen and Thomas Davis’ retirement ceremony. It will be a couple of years left before this scenario comes to fruition – at least that’s what Newton is hoping – so when the dust settles the quarterback should realize just how much he is adored by supporters and act accordingly.
It would be an absolute travesty if Newton did not retire as a member of the Panthers organization. But the wound is still quite fresh which makes it all the harder to predict just how much longer this bitterness is going to last.
Letting Newton go and not see out the final year of his deal in favor of Teddy Bridgewater is a decision they’d probably take back in hindsight. Carolina is clearly looking to move on from the former Louisville standout if they secure a better option, so bringing him in was a gamble that did not pay off.
As for Newton, his future also remains unclear. Retiring earlier than expected just doesn’t seem to be in the player’s mindset, but when the time comes it should be in Carolina.