Panthers QB Cam Newton giving 50 tickets to fans to bolster home-field advantage

Veteran quarterback Cam Newton returned to the Carolina Panthers, where he won 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player honors and guided a squad to a Super Bowl appearance, ahead of last Sunday's 34-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals and delivered a pair of touchdowns on his first two plays in that victory. 

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule confirmed earlier in the week Newton would get the majority of first-team practice reps leading into this Sunday's home game versus the Washington Football Team, and Newton remains on track to start in Week 11. 

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Newton is partnering with his production company, local organizations and the Panthers to welcome a certain portion of the fan base to Carolina's Bank of America Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

"I’m going to give away 50 tickets to the people who have rarely been to a game or have never been to a game," Newton explained. "I’m partnering with the Panthers and doing this. I’m adamant about, this Sunday is important to us. We need to reclaim Bank of America Stadium. I know the success hasn’t been there, but we ain’t talking about the past. I’m talking about the things here moving forward." 

The Panthers started the campaign at 3-0, fell to 3-4, but then improved to 5-5 last Sunday with Newton contributing to the offense. Signing the 32-year-old could prove to be the best midseason acquisition of the year for any team if he helps Carolina turn things around in more ways than one before December.