This morning, Ian Rapoport at NFL Network reported that the Panthers are moving forward with Cam Newton as their starting quarterback.
Newton is entering the last year of his contract and there has been a ton of speculation about him potentially being traded this offseason. While Rapoport’s report is reassuring, we still haven’t heard any kind of public commitment from the front office.
Head coach Matt Rhule is scheduled to speak with the media in about half an hour at the NFL Scouting Combine, so perhaps we’ll learn something then. In the meantime, there’s more.
In a post Newton shared on his personal Instagram account, an emotional Cam was filmed at the gym saying: “I’m so comfortable with being uncomfortable. . . All I want is a little commitment. And you can’t give me that?” Newton then repeated the question, followed by an F-bomb to end the video.
Before we all lose our minds, we don’t know exactly what Newton is talking about, here.
It’s possible he’s alluding to a personal matter not related to his contract. However, it would make sense if he’s feeling anxious about his situation.
Newton may not want to play this year without an extension, but it’s probably in the team’s best interest to let him start again in 2020 and then reevaluate depending on how he performs and if he stays healthy.
On the other hand, Newton has said he wants to stay in Charlotte and the thought of leaving has never entered his mind. He also told the media his meetings with Rhule, team owner David Tepper and general manager Marty Hurney left him feeling inspired and he’s eager to prove himself again.
So, what’s going on?
There’s no way to know for sure unless Newton explicitly spells it out for us. Maybe Rhule’s press conference will be enlightening.
