New Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule dodged a question about quarterback Cam Newton in his first press conference on Wednesday, and owner David Tepper did not offer much more.
“Every player that buys into this, the more they buy into this, the more things can work,” Tepper said when asked about how Newton fits the Panthers' timeline, per Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. “And that’s what we’re going to need here, is buy-in from people, okay? If we can get that kind of buy in sooner rather than later, no matter what the personnel is … we will try to use our personnel to the best possible [advantage], whoever that personnel is.”
So yeah. Tepper pretty much talked in circles there, but it seems pretty clear that Carolina is not committed to Newton as the starting quarterback for 2020.
That doesn't necessarily mean that the Panthers are definitely going to show Newton the door, as it is entirely possible that Carolina genuinely does not know what it is going to do under center.
However, this is an obvious indication that the Panthers' belief in Newton has waned, particularly after the former NFL MVP played in just two games this season due to a foot injury, one that would ultimately require surgery.
Newton has also undergone a pair of shoulder surgeries since the end of the 2016 campaign, so he has not exactly been able to stay healthy over the last few seasons.
Carolina tried out both Kyle Allen and Will Grier following Newton's injury in 2019.
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