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The Carolina Panthers might've just extended another olive branch to the greatest player in franchise history.
In anticipation of the 2025 NFL draft, the team's social media squad has been posting countdown teasers to their Twitter/X account. Each teaser, depending on the day, features a player (past or present) and their uniform number relative to the start of this year's selection process.
So Tuesday's post, with two days remaining until the clock begins, spotlighted No. 2—cornerback Mike Jackson. We've also seen the likes of former kicker John Kasay (No. 4), cornerback Jaycee Horn (No. 8) and quarterback Bryce Young (No. 9) included in the trend.
And now, with one day left, the Panthers gave us this on Wednesday morning:
That post, funky font and all, is a bit out of the norm for the Panthers—who haven't acknowledged quarterback Cam Newton much since his playing days.
In fact, the tweet was so surprising that it caught the attention of Panthers beat reporter Sheena Quick . . .
Many folks, including Newton himself, believe the organization has distanced themselves from their all-time leading passer.
Here's what Newton had to say back in November following a fairly recent visit to Bank of America Stadium:
"We went into the Panthers' facility and . . . you mean to tell me that one of the greatest Panthers to ever play ain't up nowhere? Nowhere. I'm talkin' nowhere. Who brought it to my attention? My son. So as a man, when you have to explain to your son . . . 'Daddy, where's your picture?'
"Then you know what the tour guide person said? 'Oh, if you go up on the second and third level, Cam's all over the place. I seen Jake Delhomme. I seen Thomas Davis. I seen Luke Kuechly. I seen Julius Peppers. I seen Steve Smith.
"At this particular point in time, the question was 'Oh, we don't know if Cam's retired yet.' News flash—I'm never gonna retire. I know I've played my last piece of football. It don't matter to me to officially retire. I'm in a happy place."
Since then, Joe Person of The Athletic reported that the Panthers are leaving their doors open for Newton, and have even invited him to "multiple team-sponsored event in recent years."
“Cam Newton has been and will continue to be welcomed by the Carolina Panthers,” a team spokesperson stated, per Person. “Our doors are open, as they are to all team Legends.”
Carolina selected Newton with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft. He went on to lead them to three straight NFC South titles (2013 to 2015) and their second-ever Super Bowl appearance while becoming the first Panther to be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.
The Panthers, in what was an ugly divorce, would then release Newton ahead of the 2020 season. He'd eventually return in 2021, appearing in eight games to close out the season.
Newton has not played an NFL down since.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Is the relationship between Cam Newton and the Panthers on the mend?
Continue reading...
In anticipation of the 2025 NFL draft, the team's social media squad has been posting countdown teasers to their Twitter/X account. Each teaser, depending on the day, features a player (past or present) and their uniform number relative to the start of this year's selection process.
So Tuesday's post, with two days remaining until the clock begins, spotlighted No. 2—cornerback Mike Jackson. We've also seen the likes of former kicker John Kasay (No. 4), cornerback Jaycee Horn (No. 8) and quarterback Bryce Young (No. 9) included in the trend.
And now, with one day left, the Panthers gave us this on Wednesday morning:
That post, funky font and all, is a bit out of the norm for the Panthers—who haven't acknowledged quarterback Cam Newton much since his playing days.
In fact, the tweet was so surprising that it caught the attention of Panthers beat reporter Sheena Quick . . .
Many folks, including Newton himself, believe the organization has distanced themselves from their all-time leading passer.
Here's what Newton had to say back in November following a fairly recent visit to Bank of America Stadium:
"We went into the Panthers' facility and . . . you mean to tell me that one of the greatest Panthers to ever play ain't up nowhere? Nowhere. I'm talkin' nowhere. Who brought it to my attention? My son. So as a man, when you have to explain to your son . . . 'Daddy, where's your picture?'
"Then you know what the tour guide person said? 'Oh, if you go up on the second and third level, Cam's all over the place. I seen Jake Delhomme. I seen Thomas Davis. I seen Luke Kuechly. I seen Julius Peppers. I seen Steve Smith.
"At this particular point in time, the question was 'Oh, we don't know if Cam's retired yet.' News flash—I'm never gonna retire. I know I've played my last piece of football. It don't matter to me to officially retire. I'm in a happy place."
Since then, Joe Person of The Athletic reported that the Panthers are leaving their doors open for Newton, and have even invited him to "multiple team-sponsored event in recent years."
“Cam Newton has been and will continue to be welcomed by the Carolina Panthers,” a team spokesperson stated, per Person. “Our doors are open, as they are to all team Legends.”
Carolina selected Newton with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2011 draft. He went on to lead them to three straight NFC South titles (2013 to 2015) and their second-ever Super Bowl appearance while becoming the first Panther to be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.
The Panthers, in what was an ugly divorce, would then release Newton ahead of the 2020 season. He'd eventually return in 2021, appearing in eight games to close out the season.
Newton has not played an NFL down since.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Is the relationship between Cam Newton and the Panthers on the mend?
Continue reading...
