Instead of answering all the questions involving the health of his throwing shoulder, all Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did was fuel the speculation that he’s not completely healed from offseason shoulder surgery.
In Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Newton only attempted one pass longer than 20 yards. It was a 26-yard incompletion that sailed over the head of receiver Curtis Samuel by several feet.
That was it, just one attempt.
On Monday, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said his quarterback wasn’t being protected or limited in any way. He said it rests on the proverbial shoulders of Newton on what he does with the ball.
“I think it’s more about decisions he makes out there,” he said. “It’s the quarterback, the guy with the ball in his hands, who dictates where the ball goes more so than it does anything else.”
Whenever Newton was questioned about the lack of downfield throws after the game on Sunday, he bristled. On Tuesday, he sent a warning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1), Thursday night’s opponent.
“How about this: You talk to the defensive coordinator for Tampa, and don’t think I can throw the ball over 20 yards and see how far that gets you,” Newton said. “How about that?”
Even so, if his shoulder is OK, then why wasn’t his number called to run the ball more on set plays?
Why didn’t he attempt to run the ball when the Panthers (0-1) were close to the goal line?
Newton holds the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 58.
Against the Rams (1-0), Newton only had three rushes for minus-2 yards.
On Tuesday, Newton joked that the reason he didn’t get to run the ball is because offensive coordinator Norv Turner must own star running back Christian McCaffrey on his fantasy football team.
Newton also said whatever gives the Panthers the best chance of winning is all that he’s concerned about, not the personal stats.
“I just want to win in the worst way,” he said. “I don’t care if I throw the ball at all. If handing the ball of the (McCaffrey) or whoever. … I just want to win.”
Newton tried to reassure those wondering aloud about his shoulder by saying that it’s just fine and there should be no reason for worry.
“(If throwing deep is) going to hinder us from winning, I don’t want to throw it. But if it’s going to make us win, oh, baby, you better call some doggone deep balls.
“I just can’t stress enough … just throw the ball in the heavens and just expect it to be caught. There’s more to it than that.”