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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has an MVP award already for his efforts during the 2015 season, but he thinks he is even playing better than that this season. Newton feels like he has become a more complete NFL quarterback, which has helped his play on the field.
“Honestly, I feel like I’m playing the best football of my career,” Newton said, via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer. “Straight-up. I just feel in control. There’s no question marks. My assuredness of every single play, I know exactly what I’m supposed to do. . . . It’s just, I don’t want to sound ‘like that’, but I know my worth. I know who I am. . . . That’s all personal. And that comes with preparation.
“I feel like, when somebody is at their best and facing me, and I’m at my best, we win. You know what I’m saying?”
The Panthers made a big change this offseason by bringing in Norv Turner to be the offensive coordinator, and that has worked out to benefit Newton. Newton currently has a completion percentage of 69.6 percent, which is the best of his career by almost eight percentage points.
As well as Newton has played, though, it hasn't resulted in as many wins as he would like.
“[In the past when I was playing my best], I was rewarded with victories,” he said. “Now, it’s tougher that we’re not winning. . . .
“The selfish me would have been like, ‘Oh, I’m good. We ain’t losing because of me. But that’s not where I am right now in my career.”
Those last comments show just how much Newton has changed and matured in his career. Early in his career, there were criticisms that he was more concerned about himself, but now the most important thing is winning.
If Cam Newton continues to play well, the Panthers should start winning more games, and a playoff spot is well within their grasp.