When he first entered the league, Cam Newton was the face of the Carolina Panthers.
He won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2011, and the league MVP award in 2015.
After an impressive start to his career, Newton had a relatively steep drop-off in production from 2019-2021.
During that three-year window, Newton started 22 games, winning just seven of them.
After not playing in the NFL for the entire 2022 season, Newton is eyeing a comeback, announcing that he would throw at Auburn’s Pro Day.
This was met with harsh criticism by many, including Shannon Sharpe.
“I hate to break it to you, but you’re now one of those ‘randoms,’” Sharpe said.
.@ShannonSharpe on Cam Newton announcing he’ll throw at Auburn’s Pro Day:
“Cam, you haven’t been good in a very long time. It’s 2023, this isn’t 2015 anymore. I hate to break it to you, but you’re now one of those ‘randoms.’” pic.twitter.com/AaE4YriqoY
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 21, 2023
Newton will be joining an incoming crop of Auburn players who will be trying to showcase their skills in order to improve their draft stock.
Sharpe has been especially critical of Newton during this time, along with many other NFL personalities.
To Sharpe, Newton has already gotten his chance in the NFL, and it’s time for him to hang up his cleats.
While Newton was once an incredible athlete, the NFL has changed significantly since he entered the league.
He was once the most athletic, innovative quarterback in the league.
Many quarterbacks have adopted a similar style to Newton, both rushing and passing effectively.
Even if Newton is still able to throw, will NFL teams truly want to take a chance on him?
Many teams have either solidified their quarterback position or committed to drafting a rookie in the upcoming draft.
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