The Carolina Panthers released Cam Newton on Tuesday, ending the quarterback's nine-year run with the club.
The breakup did not appear to be entirely amicable, as Newton recently ripped the Panthers for stating that he had been given permission to seek a trade.
However, following Newton's release, Carolina general manager Marty Hurney released a statement thanking Newton for everything he had done for the organization:
“Cam has meant a lot to this organization and the Carolinas,” Hurney said, via the Panthers' team website. “Everyone saw his performances on the field. I had the privilege of seeing how hard he worked off the field, and his commitment to this team when no one was watching. He's the ultimate competitor and it physically hurts him to lose. He willed this team to victory on many occasions and will always be considered one of the greatest players in the history of this franchise. His contributions to this team, this community and the game of football will leave a lasting impact on our organization.”
Newton, who played his collegiate football at Auburn, was originally selected by the Panthers with the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.
He immediately established himself as one of the league's most exciting young stars, making the Pro Bowl in his rookie year.
Of course, the highlight of Newton's tenure in Carolina came during the 2015-16 campaign, when he won NFL MVP honors and led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance.
But since then, injuries have derailed Newton's career. He has undergone a pair of shoulder surgeries since the end of 2016, and earlier this offseason, Newton had a foot procedure to repair an issue that limited him to just two games in 2019.
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