According to comments from Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer, Cam Newton could be set for a 3rd stint with the team.

The past few years have certainly been something of a dissapointment for Cam Newton, who was the #1 draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and M.V.P in the 2015 season when he helped lead the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record and the #1 seed in the NFC.  

Having struggled with injuries during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the team that drafted him decided to move on from ‘Super Cam’ and head in a different direction, releasing him despite their best efforts in trying to find a trade partner for his services.

He eventually found his way to the New England Patriots for the 2020 season where things certainly could have gone better, only throwing for 2,657 yards and 8 touchdowns in his 15 starts before once again being moved on right before the start of the 2021 season.

He did return to the Panthers in 2021, but failed to live up to his legacy at Bank Of America Stadium from his first stint there, going 0-5 in his 5 starts and throwing more intercpetions than he did touchdowns, before once again finding himself being a free agent.

What’s the story?

However it appears as though the doors aren’t totally closed on the idea of him making it a hat-trick of stints with the Panthers. 

Back in March Fitterer claimed that the Panthers were ‘very open’ to the idea of Newton coming back, and speaking to Pro Football Talk, it appears as though that remains the case, despite the team taking Matt Corral in the 3rd round of the draft. 

“The lines of communication are open. I know Coach Rhule has spoken with him. We are going to have a discussion at some point but we’re just not quite there yet, but we’ll see how it goes. The more competition we have at that position the better.”

Living in the past? 

Competition certainly isn’t a bad thing, and Newton did appear in our recent list of top ten free agents that are still on the market, but you feel that if he were to go back, it would just be for the sake of it rather than anything competition-wise.

With the experienced Sam Darnold already part of the roster, and Corrall more than likely their man of the future, those should be the players that the Panthers should be focusing on under centre rather than going back to Newton.

It’s time for them to move on and try to create a new identity for themselves rather than trying to make Newton the ‘break glass in case of emergency' option.