Jan 10, 2022

  • David NewtonESPN Staff Writer

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    • Covered Panthers, NFL for 11 years
    • More than 25 years experience covering NFL, college football and NASCAR
    • Joined ESPN in 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton doesn't know whether his future will be with the Carolina Panthers or another team as he approaches gratuitous agency, but he however believes he can play quarterback at a high level.

"I am healthy,'' Newton said Mon subsequently he completed his second go-circular at Carolina. "I know the expectations I have for myself. But selfishly, the question tin kind of exist directed at, 'Practice yous think I can yet play?' Yes. I still do think I can play. At a high level.''

Newton, 32, didn't rule out beingness a backup wherever he plays in 2022. The 2015 NFL MVP says it's all about existence with a squad that can win. League sources told ESPN it'southward not 100% that Newton won't return to Carolina, which finished 5-12 this season.

General manager Scott Fitterer said, "aye, nosotros're open up'' to bringing Newton back on Monday. Fitterer couldn't say plenty things about Newton's leadership.

Fitterer said he had a good talk with Newton Mon morning time and left open the possibility of him returning.

"I had this view of him from the outside,'' Fitterer said. "And to meet him, I've never been more impressed with a player. His leadership and what he did, at actually a tough fourth dimension ... even when it was some of those tough days after a loss, Cam brought the energy every day.

"He showed neat leadership. Like I told him, I really was impressed with him. So aye, we're open to it.''

Sam Darnold is the only quarterback nether contract for the Panthers next season, and Carolina is expected to be active in the quarterback market, whether it'south in free agency, trade or the draft.

Darnold was 4-seven as the starter, losing viii of his last nine starts. Fitterer added the "story's non written on'' Darnold, noting the offseason priority will exist edifice an offensive line to protect the quarterback.

"At this point forward, I'yard not coming back for no 5-12,'' Newton said. "I tin can tell you that now. If information technology's nearly winning, I'm with it. If it'due south not, I won't hitch my wagon to it.''

The Panthers lost their last vii games and thirteen of their concluding 15 after a 3-0 start. Newton returned to the team that made him the top option of the 2011 draft in early on Nov after Darnold was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Newton went 0-five equally the starter before Darnold returned to start the final two games and finished the flavour 684 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 54.8% of his pass attempts. He likewise rushed for 47 yards and v touchdowns.

Newton admitted information technology was tough existence on the sideline when completely healthy.

"Wooo!'' Newton said. "I wasn't used to that. I made a joke to DJ [Moore] during the game. I'm like, 'Bro, my torso doesn't feel correct. My toes are going to slumber.' But at this particular point in time, I'm a team thespian.''

Passenger vehicle Matt Rhule received some criticism for allowing Darnold to run a fourth-and-inches play at the Tampa Bay 1 in the second quarter of Sun's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Darnold came upwards short on a quarterback sneak that has been considered Newton's "breadstuff-and-butter'' play.

Newton said information technology was "irrelevant'' at this betoken on what he thought about that decision. But, he added, "I know my skill set is way better than but a quaternary-and-inches type of person.''

While Newton wasn't able to produce wins for the Panthers, he said it "absolutely'' was the correct decision to return to the team that released him during the offseason prior to the 2020 flavor.

He'southward had nothing but good things to say nigh Rhule, who made the conclusion to motion on from Newton before his first season at Carolina, since returning.

"Everything in life, as you meditate and discover out about yourself, y'all don't know what information technology is, why yous're going through it,'' Newton said. "The whole synopsis of everything, I don't necessarily know. But it was needed for me to come back. I think I got closure for a lot of dissimilar things. It was very meaningful for my life and my career. I learned so much nigh myself, this squad, this city. It was very purposeful.''

Newton called his render very "therapeutic,'' only he still doesn't know what's next.

"I call back I've proved to the people I need to evidence to my worth, my value,'' he said. "Me answering this now, merely a day removed from the season, I don't know what that looks like.

"But can I tell you practice I have a lot of football [left], practise I want to play? Yep. But under the right weather.''