Panthers QB Cam Newton accepts some blame for Joe Brady's firing
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was downright bad in the 33-10 loss at the Miami Dolphins back on Nov. 28 ahead of the bye. Newton completed just 5-of-21 passes for 92 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns in that defeat, and he was ultimately benched and replaced by former XFL star P.J. Walker.
Since making what was hoped to be a triumphant return to where he earned NFL Most Valuable Player honors in 2015, Newton has gone 0-2 as a starter and largely looked more like an old version of himself than the star of old. Carolina head coach Matt Rhule surprised some last Sunday when he dismissed offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and Newton admitted Thursday he accepts some responsibility for that decision.
"Do I think I had something to do with it? The competitor in me, absolutely, yes," Newton explained, according to David Newton of ESPN. "Because the truth of the matter is you don't lose your job because of success. Where I'm at now is doing what I can control to make sure that I have a job, too. Let's just be honest.''
Per Spotrac, Newton's contract expires at the end of the season, and he's thus far done little to earn another deal from the Panthers during the winter or spring months.
"Man, I'm here to win," Newton added during comments ahead of Sunday's game versus an Atlanta Falcons side that, like Carolina, sits at 5-7. "When we win, everyone else gets promotions. When we don't, people get cut along the way.''
Rhule said earlier this week Walker could see snaps against Atlanta even with Newton set to remain atop the depth chart for now.
More must-reads: