NFL hot seat: 5 quarterbacks under pressure to deliver in 2020
By Peter Panacy
NFL Hot Seat No. 4: Cam Newton, New England Patriots
In a way, former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is fighting for his NFL life.
Getting another chance with the New England Patriots after unceremoniously being jettisoned by Carolina provides the context for sweet revenge, particularly within a franchise no longer being represented by the future Hall of Famer, Tom Brady. As such, Newton has a chance to resurrect his career amid one of the best situations possible.
Yet it doesn’t change the notion Newton hasn’t been quite the same since his league MVP campaign back in 2015. His passer ratings in the four years since were:
- 2016 — 75.8
- 2017 — 80.7
- 2018 — 94.2
- 2019 — 71.0 (two games)
Injuries have played a role. So did the Panthers’ team-wide regression.
If there’s a place for Newton to succeed, however, it’s in New England. But considering all eyes will be on the former MVP, and the Panthers would want the NFL hot seat to get too hot to justify their own actions, Newton will have to live up to some fair-or-not lofty expectations.
Otherwise, it’ll be the Jarrett Stidham show in New England.