Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy. Then he was first-overall pick in the NFL Draft. Then he was the Rookie of the Year. Then he was the MVP, starting in the Super Bowl.
Now, the soon-to-be 31-year-old quarterback is grappling with the reality of being unwanted for the first time in his career after being recently released by the Panthers.
“I’m a fish out of water. I’ve never … known anything other than the Carolina Panthers, and now it’s like I want God to direct my path and put me in a position where I can thrive and be myself,” Newton told NBA star Chris Paul on Instagram Live. “But on top of that, it’s still [about] becoming better.”
Newton, whom Carolina cut in favor of free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, may remain in “unchartered waters” as a free agent for some time. Few teams are in need of a starting quarterback, and Newton — who has been plagued by foot and shoulder injuries the past two seasons — is currently unable to be examined by a doctor, due to the coronavirus.
“It’s so much possibility right now for me, but the fact that this corona situation has hit — I’m not a person to blame or do any of that things, man, it’s business,” Newton said. “But at the same time, I think I have been affected in a lot of ways, and it’s just [unfortunate]. But yeah, at the end of the day, man, I’m going to let the ball play how it play, man, and go from there.”
Newton has turned to meditation every morning, trying to work through a chip on his shoulder that has “turned into family-size real quick,” while spending an unusual amount of time at home.
“Being around my kids is obviously the best thing about it. My son hasn’t seen me this much, and he doesn’t know what’s going on,” Newton said. “I really have taken this time to become stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.”
Since the Panthers’ loss in Super Bowl 50, the team has posted just one winning season. Newton holds a 6-10 record as starter the past two years — he appeared in just two games last season — while throwing for 3,967 yards, 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.