Cam Newton deserves this moment
It was nothing short of a fairytale for most Carolina Panthers fans when Cam Newton’s sensational return was confirmed prior to their Week 10 game at the Arizona Cardinals. The quarterback was keen not to make this all about himself, with his decision to come back stemming from an obvious love for the organization and a willingness to help them in their hour of need.
This hasn’t translated into wins. And there’s little doubt Newton would be the first to tell you he needs to improve when it comes to production.
But when it comes to a moment such as this, nobody deserves it more.
Fans didn’t get the chance to give Newton a proper send-off before he was released the first time around. Something that angered many and especially after Matt Rhule declared how excited he was to be working with the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Of course, there is no room for sentiment in the NFL. But the Panthers have nothing left to play for other than pride and Newton’s passion and the esteem to which he is held gives Carolina a far better chance of beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers than Sam Darnold.
Whether this is Newton’s last hurrah is yet to be determined. All signs seem to point in that direction, so it’s vital the Panthers handle the situation with more compassion this time around.