WATCH: Cam Newton scores on first play back with Carolina, yells 'I'm back'
Cam Newton is back and he made sure everybody knows it on Sunday afternoon.
The former NFL MVP signed with the Carolina Panthers at the end of last week and scored on his first play on the field on Sunday versus the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals.
After his score, a two-yard run, Newton took of his helmet and yelled, “I’m back,” several times. Removing his helmet resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Panthers.
Recovering the football at the Arizona Cardinals’ 15-yard line, the Panthers needed just five plays to score. P.J. Walker went 1-for-2 on the drive for 13 yards before Cam Newton stepped in.
The Panthers made a big commitment to the NFL vet last week.
“Source: The #Panthers are giving QB Cam Newton a 1-year deal worth up to $10M for the rest of year,” tweeted Rapoport. “Includes $4.5M fully guaranteed and $1.5M roster bonus.”
Evidently, the Panthers are committing to their former star for the rest of 2021. While Darnold was capable through the first three weeks of the season, the wheels have truly fallen off over recent weeks.
Moreover, Newton spent the first nine years of his NFL career in Charlotte after the Panthers used their No. 1 overall selection on the Auburn signal caller in 2011. He led the Panthers to three division titles, four playoff appearances and a Super Bowl appearance, and he was named NFL MVP in 2015.
In total, Newton started 124 of the 125 games in which he played for the Panthers and threw for 31,698 yards, 190 touchdowns and 118 interceptions. A true dual-threat quarterback, he also had 4,806 rushing yards and 58 scores on the ground.
Newton: Return to Panthers is ‘to win football games’
Cam Newton’s return to the Carolina Panthers has been the talk of the NFL in recent days. But Newton isn’t looking for a Cinderella story. When addressing the media for the first time since signing his new deal, Newton said that he had three criteria when it came to choosing a new team. The Panthers checked all three boxes.
“When you thought about the question, you asked yourself personally what are you looking (for) in a team,” Newton said when asked why he came back to the Panthers. “One of them, not in no particular order, is are they a contender? Number two is do you have a realistic opportunity to be so late in the season to compete. And number three, what’s the skill set around so you can show your talents as well. Check, check, check. It was a no-brainer. And obviously, there’s the added dimension with the familiarity here.”
Newton made one thing clear when talking to the media. He’s not here for the storyline. There is obviously history between Newton and the team. But he is coming back with one goal in mind – to win.
“But once again, I get to the point of everybody wants to make it about Cam’s back. You know why I’m here. This ain’t for no ploy, this ain’t for no ticket sales, this ain’t for no Cinderella story. It’s to win football games. And that’s pretty much what’s on my heart and that’s how I’m going about it.”
Newton’s return to the Panthers was made possible by an injury to Sam Darnold, who began the year as Carolina’s starting quarterback. Darnold has a shoulder injury and was recently placed on injured reserve. He is expected to miss four-to-six weeks.
Darnold has seen serious struggles in recent weeks. When he returns, he might not have a starting job to come back to. The Panthers gave Newton a one-year contract that will pay him up to $10 million. Newton’s new deal includes $4.5 million fully guaranteed and a $1.5 million roster bonus. That would be a lot of money for a backup. Newton wouldn’t have come back without an opportunity to play, and he is likely to get that opportunity very soon.
On3’s Jonathan Wagner contributed to this report.