NFC South: 5 things to look for in 2018
By Cody Rivera
4. Which Cam Newton will the Panthers get?
When he’s at the absolute top of his game, Cam Newton is a top five quarterback in the NFL. If you need convincing on that, just look at his accomplishments. Newton is the only player in the modern football era to win the Heisman Trophy, win a national championship in college, and then be selected first overall in the NFL Draft all within the same year – he checked all three of those off the list in 2011.
Newton then won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2011. He’s been named to the Pro Bowl three times. He was the NFL MVP in 2015, and that very same year, Newton came close to achieving everything a quarterback can ever hope to achieve – until the Panthers were blasted by the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.
Newton has done everything else, but that Super Bowl ring still eludes him. He suffered a down year in 2016 as the Panthers went just 6-10, a huge drop off from their 15-1 record the year before. In 2017, Newton regained his form for the most part, even though he was recovering from offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder.
He’s entering his age 29 season this year, and if he’s healthy and plays well, then the Panthers remain a Super Bowl contender. But one knock on Newton that’s been around for a few years is his attitude; it’s not always the best, as he tends to be a little arrogant and whiny on occasion.
Newton can make or break the Panthers this year, but if he shows signs of his MVP form from a few years ago, Carolina fans will be in for a fun season.