Panthers and Newton at the beginning and end of their NFL journeys

Cam Newton lit up the NFL during the prime of his career at the Carolina Panthers. Newton was a true superstar, delighting not only Panthers’ supporters but also fanbases from across the NFL with his dynamic performances on the field.

The quarterback was also a character in his exploits on and off-the-field, showcasing his enigmatic personality in his interactions on social media and press conferences. Life was never dull with Newton, with the high point of the 2015 season when he was crowned MVP in the process of guiding the Panthers to the Super Bowl.

However, Carolina’s defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos began a steady decline, which resulted in his release after the 2019 season. The Panthers have begun a rebuild after losing the two pillars of their team with Newton and Luke Kuechly leaving the franchise in the space of a year.

Matt Rhule has the task of leading the Panthers back to the Super Bowl, although their hopes in 2021 are slim being backed at +6600 to win the title in the American football betting odds. Unless the Panthers can become a force out of nowhere, the franchise will be among the list of teams that will be lining up a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft so it will not be worth monitoring the NFL betting tips for the Panthers as far as the Super Bowl is concerned.

The franchise is enduring a period of rebuild, which could also be said of Newton himself. The 32-year-old faces a difficult choice in his career after being released by the New England Patriots. Newton struggled in his one season in New England, throwing only eight touchdowns in 15 games along with 10 interceptions. He was solid on the ground by rushing for 12 scores, the second highest mark of his career. However, Newton could not convince Bill Belichick to give him a second season in the quarterback role, losing out to rookie Mac Jones in training camp and was subsequently released.

If he cannot beat out a rookie for a starting job, there are few very roles left in the NFL for the former MVP. For a player that was a joy to behold at the peak of his powers, he is certainly in danger of ending his career on a low note. There could be an opportunity for a backup position for teams that have mobile quarterbacks. Even a romantic return to the Panthers would make sense given that Sam Darnold is fully entrenched as the starter. If Newton would be willing to play the backup role and offer his insight without being a distraction, it may make sense for the franchise. On the other hand, it might be best for Carolina to have a clean break from the old era.

The NFL is going through a period of transition as the old guard of quarterbacks that have excelled over the last decade are being phased out of the league other than Tom Brady, who looks as though he’s going to play forever. The Panthers will be hopeful that their decision to sign Darnold in the off-season proves to be as successful as their decision to draft Newton in 2011. There is a stark contrast between the franchise who are looking to begin their journey back to the top, whereas Newton appears to be at the end of the road.

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