Cam Newton looks to remind fans, opponents and pundits there’s a reason the Carolina Panthers quarterback was the 2015 NFL MVP.
As questions swirl around how the Carolina Panthers will perform in 2017, one thing is clear: Cam Newton is the franchise quarterback. Newton is returning to the team after shoulder surgery this offseason and after being deemed the 2015 NFL MVP. Newton is looking to reassert himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league and his work is cut out for him from the first snap of the 2017 season.
The Panthers have retooled their offense to add more weapons around Newton. The addition of Curtis Samuel and Christian McCaffrey brings two rookies that can instantly impact a game. They give Newton options in both the run and pass game, which will add a new wrinkle for opposing defenses to worry about. The returning core of players in Jonathan Stewart, Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess and Greg Olsen adds an additional layer of reliability that Newton needs if he is to return to form.
One of the biggest questions will be whether or not Newton goes back to his roots of being a quarterback who is ready to take off running. Coach Ron Rivera has openly talked about the possibility of running Newton less; especially with the other players available in the Panthers run game. Newton may disagree with the idea but with the violent hits he took last season, perhaps it’s time for him to not tuck the ball and run so frequently.
More from Carolina Panthers
- A silver lining to the Carolina Panthers rough preseason?
- 2023 NFL Season: NFC South shaping up to be an exciting division
- 5 NFL teams who missed playoffs in 2022 but will make it in 2023
- 2023 NFL Season: Way too early picks for division winners
- Fantasy Football: Undervalued, sleeper RBs to target in drafts in 2023
Here’s what Newton had to say talking to the media on Thursday at training camp (per ESPN):
"“In my career, over the whole body of work, the things that have put me at an advantage most times is having that ability to run.”Newton said he will continue to take what the defense gives him.“Yeah, do I have weapons? Absolutely,” he said. “But it’s still going to be on me and in me to focus on getting those different outlets the ball the right times and knowing that.”"
McCaffrey and Samuel create the option for short passing options while Benjamin, Funchess and Olsen can be employed for medium and long range. On Wednesday, Newton threw the ball for the first time since shoulder surgery. Many were pleased with how he looked, but the Auburn product also mentioned that he knows he still has to improve.
Newton is slowly returning to practice and hasn’t thrown the deep routes that he’s been known for, but he’s shown promise with short and medium routes. When coupled with the fact that Newton appeared at camp at a trim 246 pounds, it looks like he’s fully prepared to put his stamp on this coming season.
Next: 15 Greatest fantasy football team names for 2017
The Panthers are talking all the precautions to make sure his health is at top level when the season starts because nearly everything rides on how well he plays with all these new offensive options standing in front of him.