Cam Newton may have been the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, but at least one person believes the second-year quarterback may need to start worrying about his job security.
FOX NFL Sunday analyst Jimmy Johnson thinks that the Carolina Panthers’ decision to fire general manager Marty Hurney during the week could put Newton’s job status in jeopardy.
“With a new general manager, this team will be gutted and rebuilt over the next couple of years,” Johnson said during FOX NFL Sunday. “Cam Newton better worry about his own job because they are going to turn this roster over. It was the wrong move to re-sign both their running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.”
It’s hard to believe that after all the success Newton enjoyed last season that he would be in danger of losing his job, but Johnson thinks that is the case.
The Panthers are 1-6 through seven games this year, just like last season. Newton is posting similar stats to last year:
Newton through six games – 2011
134/229 (58.5%), 1,847 yards, 7 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
47 carries, 207 yards, 6 touchdowns
Newton through six games – 2012
101/173 (58.4%), 1,387 yards, 5 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
46 carries, 273 yards, 3 touchdowns
Not only have the Panthers and Newton fallen short of expectations through the first five games of the season, but Cam has been criticized for his behavior in postgame media conferences throughout the year. It got to the point where his father even said his son needs to change his behavior.
There’s really only one way for Newton to quiet the talks about his job security: win. That’s something the Panthers didn’t do too much last season, but something they still have time to do this year.
