Tag: Cam Newton

Jan 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA;Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Seeking NFL comeback, Cam Newton to throw at Auburn’s pro day

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton revealed Monday that he will throw passes for scouts attending Auburn’s pro day on Tuesday.

Newton, who starred at Auburn and won the Heisman Trophy there in 2010, is looking for a new team after he went unsigned throughout the 2022 season.

Newton announced his intentions to work out at Auburn in a video posted to social media that ended with him saying, “Ain’t 32 (expletive) better than me, you dig?”

Newton last appeared with the Carolina Panthers in 2021 as a midseason addition after starter Sam Darnold was injured. He split playing time with P.J. Walker and wound up starting five of the eight games he played, throwing for 684 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions and running for another five touchdowns.

Drafted No. 1 overall by Carolina in 2011, Newton spent 2011-19 with the Panthers, winning Rookie of the Year in 2011 and MVP in 2015. He led Carolina to a Super Bowl berth in his MVP season. He started 15 games for the New England Patriots in 2020 but was released shortly before the 2021 season began as the Patriots preferred to start rookie Mac Jones.

In 148 career games (144 starts), Newton has thrown for 32,382 yards, 194 touchdowns and 123 interceptions. He has also rushed for 5,628 yards and 75 touchdowns, the latter an NFL record for quarterbacks.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) on the sidelines in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Newton under fire after sexist comments

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cam Newton drew scorn on social media Tuesday after making sexist remarks on a podcast.

The free agent quarterback complained about women who “can’t cook” and “don’t know when to be quiet.”

Newton, 32, made the comments on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast published on Sunday.

“Now a woman, for me, is handling your own but knowing how to cater to a man’s needs. Right?” he said on the podcast. “And I think a lot of times when you get that aesthetic of like, ‘I’m a boss b—, I’m this, I’m that.’

“No, baby! But you can’t cook. You don’t know when to be quiet. You don’t know how to allow a man to lead.”

This isn’t the first time Newton has been scrutinized for making disparaging remarks about women.

When he was with the Carolina Panthers in 2017, Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue asked him a question about a wide receiver running routes.

“It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes. It’s funny,” Newton answered. He later issued an apology.

Newton went 0-5 as the starter in his second stint with the Panthers in 2021. The 2015 NFL MVP has passed for 32,382 yards and 194 touchdowns in 148 games (144 starts) with Carolina (2011-19, 2021) and the New England Patriots (2020).

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) on the sidelines in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Free agent QB Cam Newton ‘waiting on the best fit’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Free agent quarterback Cam Newton says returning to the Carolina Panthers isn’t his only option.

“I have teams that are interested in signing me,” he wrote ESPN in a text on Tuesday. “I am waiting on the best fit as it pertains to winning a championship and getting a fair chance to play.”

Newton, who turns 33 in May, went 0-5 as a starter after rejoining the Panthers last season.

Carolina coach Matt Rhule confirmed Tuesday that he has maintained contact with Newton.

“I love Cam Newton,” Rhule said at the NFL owners meeting in Florida, per ESPN. “He’s an amazing leader. He’s an amazing football player. Everything we do has to be right for the organization, right for him.”

Last week, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said the “door is open” for Newton to return.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection started 15 games for the New England Patriots (7-8 record) in 2020 after playing his first nine seasons with Carolina.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and the league MVP in 2015, Newton is the Panthers’ franchise passing leader in completions (2,440), attempts (4,106), yards (29,725) and touchdowns (186).

He would face competition in Carolina from Sam Darnold, 24, who went 4-7 in his first season with the Panthers in 2021 after three years with the New York Jets.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) on the sidelines in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers GM on Cam Newton: ‘We’ll see where it goes’

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Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said Sam Darnold remains on target to be the team’s starting quarterback next season, but that doesn’t mean the door is closed on Cam Newton.

“The thing with Cam is it’s got to be a fit for us and it’s got to be a fit for him just as well,” Fitterer said Friday. “He’s looking for a certain opportunity. And the door’s still open for us. We’re very open to Cam. We’ll see where it goes. He knows where we stand. I think he and Matt (Rhule) had a really good conversation, from my understanding. So we’ll just see where it goes.”

Darnold started 11 games in 2021 for the Panthers, who lost 12 of their final 14 games to finish with a 5-12 record. The 24-year-old completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He rushed for five scores as well.

Newton, 32, was signed on Nov. 12 and went 0-5 as the team’s starter. The former NFL MVP has completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 684 yards with four scores and five interceptions. He also rushed for 230 yards and five touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers to start QB Sam Darnold against Saints

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold will start Sunday at New Orleans, Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday.

Darnold started the first nine games this season before going on injured reserve with a broken shoulder blade.

He returned to action last Sunday, relieving Cam Newton and completing 15 of 32 passes for 190 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in a 32-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Darnold, 24, is 4-5 as Carolina’s starter and has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 2,176 yards with seven TDs and 11 interceptions. He has also rushed for 196 yards and five touchdowns.

Newton, 32, was signed on Nov. 12 after Darnold’s injury and is 0-5 as the starter. He has completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 684 yards with four scores and five picks. The former NFL MVP has rushed for 225 yards and five touchdowns.

Backup QB P.J. Walker was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday along with pass rusher Haason Reddick.

After visiting the Saints (7-8) in Week 17, the Panthers (5-10) will close out the season at Tampa Bay on Jan. 9.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers won’t name starter, Sam Darnold likely to practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After four consecutive defeats, the Carolina Panthers have not committed to a quarterback this week and could welcome back Sam Darnold into the fray.

Darnold has been out since a Week 9 shoulder injury, with the Panthers going 1-4 in his absence. Cam Newton was signed by the Panthers on Nov. 12 and has started each of the last four games, but has been ineffective in the passing game.

The Panthers are just 5-9 and guaranteed to finish with a fourth consecutive losing season.

With Darnold set to see a doctor Monday and possibly get clearance to return to the field, head coach Matt Rhule declined to say Monday who his quarterback will be for Sunday’s home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“If Sam is healthy, we will practice him and see kind of where he’s at,” Rhule told reporters Monday. “I think it’s a good opportunity to shake some of the rust off him and see where he’s at in the process. I can’t speculate who will be the full-time guy until we have some more information.”

Newton has not thrown for 190 yards in any of the four games he has started. He played his first nine seasons with the team, guiding them to the Super Bowl in 2015, after he was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2011.

Newton, 32, has been effective running the ball, with a rushing touchdown in each of the last four games, to go along with 71 rushing yards against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. But he has also fumbled four times in the past two weeks, losing one, and has thrown four interceptions in the last three games.

Darnold, 24, helped the Panthers to a 3-0 start, but that was followed by a four-game losing streak. He threw for 1,986 yards in nine games, with seven TDs, but also threw 11 interceptions.

Until Darnold gets clearance, the Panthers will have to look for improvement from Newton.

“We’ll continue to coach Cam, and continue to build off the good things he’s doing,” Rhule said.

–Field Level Media

17. Panthers (26): As prodigal son Cam Newton prepares to reclaim QB1 status in Carolina, you have to wonder if injured Sam Darnold -- he's guaranteed nearly $19 million in 2022 -- is already entering the backup phase of a career that doesn't yet span four seasons. Syndication Usa Today

Cam Newton to start for Panthers on Sunday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cam Newton will be the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday against the visiting Washington Football Team.

Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed Friday that Newton “will take the first snap,” but also said P.J. Walker will be active and will have a role in the offense.

“We have plays for Cam, plays for P.J.,” Rhule said. “P.J. we think is an excellent quarterback, Cam can make a difference, so we’ll use both of them.”

The Panthers signed Newton to a free-agent deal on Nov. 12 after putting quarterback Sam Darnold (shoulder) on injured reserve. It marked a return to Carolina for Newton, whom the franchise drafted No. 1 overall in 2011.

Newton, 32, was released prior to the 2020 season and spent last season with the New England Patriots.

He played nine snaps and accounted for two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) in last Sunday’s 34-10 win against the Arizona Cardinals, a game started by Walker.

When the Panthers (5-5) face Washington (3-6) on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C., the coach on the opposite sideline will be Ron Rivera.

Rivera was Newton’s head coach in Carolina from 2011-19, a stretch that included an MVP season for Newton in 2015 and a loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

–Field Level Media

Cam Newton yells "I'm back!" after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Cardinals. Nfl Carolina Panthers At Arizona Cardinals

Cam Newton preparing to start for Panthers vs. WFT

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cam Newton will practice like the starting quarterback this week for the Carolina Panthers, even though coach Matt Rhule stopped just short of naming him the starter for Sunday’s game against the Washington Football Team.

The Panthers signed Newton, 32, to a free-agent deal last week after putting quarterback Sam Darnold (shoulder) on injured reserve. It marked a return to Carolina for Newton, whom the franchise selected No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft.

He was released prior to the 2020 season and spent last season with the New England Patriots. This week in practice, Newton will take most of the first-team reps.

“He did a great job (Sunday) having 10 plays that he was kind of ready for,” Rhule said Monday about Newton’s appearance in Sunday’s 34-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals, a game started by quarterback PJ Walker. “We’ll start getting him ready. If he’s ready to start, great.

“If he’s not quite ready to do everything, obviously PJ’s available. It’s kind of that plan right now.”

Against the Cardinals, Newton was in the game for nine snaps. He was 3-of-4 passing for eight yards and ran three times for 14 yards. He threw for one touchdown and ran for another.

The coach of Sunday’s opponent is Ron Rivera, who spent nearly nine seasons as Newton’s coach.

“I haven’t communicated with him, but good for him,” Rivera said Friday. “It’s an opportunity to play where he started.”

Newton won the 2015 NFL MVP with the Panthers, the same season he and Rivera led the team to the Super Bowl, a 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers are 5-5 on the season, currently in possession of the No. 7 seed in the NFC. Washington is 3-6.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers place QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) on injured reserve

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers placed Sam Darnold on injured reserve Friday, one day after they signed fellow quarterback Cam Newton to a contract.

Coach Matt Rhule said Darnold will be out at least four weeks with an injured throwing shoulder. Darnold was diagnosed earlier this week with an incomplete scapula fracture.

P.J. Walker is expected to start the Panthers’ game against the Arizona Cardinals (8-1) on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.

Walker, 26, won his only previous NFL start last season, completing 24 of 34 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Carolina’s 20-0 defeat of the Detroit Lions on Nov. 22, 2020.

After a 3-0 start, the Panthers have lost five of their past six, including a 24-6 defeat to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Darnold went 16-for-33 passing in that game with 172 yards, three interceptions and zero touchdowns.

Carolina acquired Darnold in April from the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and second- and fourth-round picks in 2022. They later shipped Teddy Bridgewater to Denver, lining Darnold up to earn his place as the franchise quarterback.

Darnold, 24, has started all nine games for Carolina in 2021 and has thrown for 1,986 yards, seven touchdowns and a league high-tying 11 interceptions with a 59.5 percent completion rate.

The Jets selected Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 draft.

–Field Level Media