Is the NFL sending a message to former Panthers QB Cam Newton?

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is still looking for a new home, which could be a not-so-subtle message from the NFL.

For all the outstanding quarterback play across the league so far this season, there’s been a ton of bad. Despite this, former Carolina Panthers signal-caller Cam Newton is still looking for a new team to call his own following his shock release from the New England Patriots.

Going with Mac Jones instead is something the Patriots did for good or bad. The first-round pick out of Alabama hasn’t exactly set the world alight through Week 4, which begs the question of just why the narrative has changed regarding first-year players at the position compared to recent history.

It wasn’t that long ago teams were willing to sit their rookie quarterbacks – something we’re seeing currently with the San Francisco 49ers and Trey Lance – rather than throwing them in at the deep end when they clearly aren’t ready.

A baptism of fire is all well and good. But there is just no telling what it can do for a young player’s confidence.

Newton didn’t suffer such problems when the Panthers selected him No. 1 overall following his Heisman Trophy campaign at Auburn.

A decade later, he finds himself on the proverbial scrapheap for the second consecutive year.

Whether this will be the case throughout 2021 is up for debate. But whatever opportunity comes Newton’s way in the future, it might be his final one.