The Carolina Panthers released Cam Newton on Tuesday, and Stephen A. Smith is not happy about the timing of it.
During an appearance on ESPN's Get Up on Wednesday morning, Smith said that the Panthers “screwed over” Newton by releasing him when most of the quarterback positions around the NFL were already filled:
The @Panthers absolutely screwed over Cam Newton. Somebody had to say it! pic.twitter.com/VCdy3rqZF9
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 25, 2020
Smith makes a great point.
Had Carolina parted ways with Newton a couple of weeks ago, there would have been many options available for him. Now, his potential destinations are very limited.
The Panthers tried to trade Newton, but with the veteran having been due $19.1 million next season, it's not hard to understand why trade partners were difficult to find.
Newton is coming off of a 2019 campaign in which he played just two games due to a foot injury that ultimately required surgery earlier this offseason.
It was just the latest health issue in what has been a string of them for Newton over the last several years, as the soon-to-be-31-year-old has also undergone a pair of shoulder procedures since the end of 2016.
Newton, who played his collegiate football at Auburn, was originally selected by Carolina with the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.
It did not take Newton long to establish himself as one of the league's most exciting young stars, as he made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year.
Of course, the highlight of Newton's Panthers tenure came during the 2015-16 campaign, when he won NFL MVP honors and led Carolina to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance.
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