The End of an Era in Carolina
image courtesy of unsplash.com
Trey Stewart, Sports Editor
Few figures in NFL can lay claim to the sort of polarizing effect Cam Newton has had on the league since he made his historic entrance in 2011. Blazing through the rookie record books (while doing so in his own unique way) Newton was poised for many successful years as the leader of the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers were perennial bottom-feeders in the league before Newton arrived, immediately enjoying more success than in years prior during Cam’s rookie tenure. He became a fan favorite in Charlotte from the first snap he ever took, establishing himself as a prominent figure in not just the beautiful Queen City, but as a face of the National Football League as well.
During the peak of his career with the Panthers, Cam (perhaps better known as SuperCam by fans) led the team to a 15-1 record during the 2015 season, cruising through the playoffs on the way to the franchise’s second ever Super Bowl appearance. His efforts over the course of the season also garnered Newton NFL MVP honors, the first Panther in history to take home the coveted award.
This begs the question for Panthers fans and NFL fans alike: What exactly went wrong for Cam Newton after that?
Cam never quite managed to replicate his performance in 2015, as injuries and poor decisions by the Panthers front office derailed what could have been a undebatable Hall of Fame Career. Cam has been punished as a quarterback by the inability of Panthers GM Marty Hurney and the rest of the front office to build a respectable offensive line throughout his tenure.
And as Newton learned the news of his release this past week, his cryptic Instagram comments suggested there may have already been a rift with the former MVP and the higher-ups within the Panthers organization.
“I think there’s a lack of respect within the organization for what he’s done for that team,” says Panthers reporter Celeste Sabin. “He took that team to heights they had never seen before, and now they basically are shoving him out the door without showing any sort of appreciation. It’s appalling.”
So, for Cam Newton, what remains? Will he be scooped up by another team and given the keys to a different offense, perhaps one with a more competent offensive line to assure Newton remains injury-free?
Wherever Newton ends up, one thing is certain. Panthers fans should hope to avoid seeing the team Cam Newton winds up playing for on the schedule this season. Because the SuperCam revenge tour starts this fall, and if Charlotte ends up being a stop, Cam will have nothing but vengeance on his mind.
