Cam Newton and Ron Rivera started and left off their professional relationship with the Carolina Panthers. And, at least at the moment, it looks like it’ll stay there.
As reported by NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Washington Football Team is not expected to sign Newton. Instead of taking a shot with the free-agent quarterback, they’ll instead opt to ride with their current group of Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
My understanding is that the Washington Football Team will continue to work with the quarterbacks on its roster (Heinicke, Allen, Fitzpatrick [hip]) with respect to Cam Newton’s availability & new vaccination status, at this time, per league source.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 19, 2021
Newton, of course, spent each of his nine seasons with the Panthers alongside current Washington head coach Ron Rivera. Both were brought in, as a first-year player and a first-year head coach, by Carolina in 2011.
The two led the franchise to a considerable amount of success, certainly relative to what the organization had previously achieved. Over that nine-year span, the team won three consecutive division titles, clinched four playoff berths and rode a 15-1 campaign in 2015 to an appearance in Super Bowl 50.
Rivera’s 76 victories and .546 winning percentage made him the winningest coach in Panthers history. Newton, the winningest quarterback in Panthers history (if you want to count that as a stat) remains their leader in career passing yards (29,041), passing touchdowns (182) and rushing touchdowns (58).