Like plenty of other people, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was taken by surprise when wide receiver after wide receiver from last year’s roster left the team this offseason.
That leaves Newton with plenty of new faces to develop chemistry this offseason, a process that’s made a bit problematic by the fact that he’s still recovering from ankle surgery. Newton said Tuesday that he wants to get back on the field quicker than the four-month timeline that he was given after the operation and believes that there’s “plenty of time” to work with the new wideouts before the start of the regular season.
Newton also talked about being more of a leader this season, something the Panthers need after cutting Steve Smith and watching Jordan Gross retire.
“I have to take more ownership of this offense and I will,” Newton said, via the team’s Twitter account.
Newton also addressed his contract and the highly likely possibility that the Panthers exercise their option for a fifth year of Newton’s services by saying that he was fine with the option and that he’s more concerned with getting the team back to the playoffs. If he pulls that off, there won’t be any doubt about whose offense it is in Carolina for quite a few years.