The Panthers are off to a disappointing 1-3 start this season, and rumors have been swirling that Cam Newton needs to get his head right. After Carolina was blown out by the Giants last Thursday, a report surfaced that claimed Newton has been working with a mind coach to manage expectations for his second year in the league. Though Newton denied it, Sunday’s last-second loss in Atlanta seemed to hit him pretty hard.
According to ESPN’s Ed Werder, Newton held up the team on Sunday evening by sulking in the locker room.
Cam Newton held up team buses for long time while sitting in locker room alone and setting record most lotion applied post shower.Nfl
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) October 1, 2012
Werder also said that Cam walked off while reporters who had waited for him for a long time were still asking questions. During a game in which he played relatively well and celebrated a touchdown with the A-town stomp, Newton also had a costly fumble in the fourth quarter. While he was able to recover it himself, it cost the Panthers a first down and forced them to punt, which set up Matt Ryan’s game-winning drive.
Perhaps Newton enjoyed too much success, too quickly during his rookie season to be able to handle adversity. The sophomore slump isn’t a foreign concept, and he can’t expect the Panthers to be a playoff team in his second season as the starter. When things get tough, it’s Cam’s job to build the team back up — not sit in the locker room while everyone waits for him to get over it and board the bus.
H/T Black Sports Online
Photo: Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE
