For better or for worse—but mostly for better—Ron Rivera and Cam Newton will forever be linked. And Rivera knows that.
One of the best people to talk to about Newton, the former Carolina Panthers head coach did so on Wednesday. Rivera—now at the helm in Washington—said he’s kept tabs on the return ahead of their Week 11 matchup and thinks, well, he thinks it’s pretty cool.
“I saw some of the plays they ran,” he told reporters via conference call about Carolina’s Week 10 win. “I saw some of the stuff that we had done with him, and saw them doing some similar things. That was kind of cool. Those are some of the things that Cam does really well.”
Newton scored two touchdowns on his first two touches of the season, one a two-yard rushing score and the other a two-yard pass to wideout Robby Anderson. The 11th-year quarterback finished with eight passing yards on four attempts and 14 rushing yards on three takes in the upset victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Rivera also called the Panthers’ signing of Newton a “very bold move” considering their bulk of young, talented players already on the roster. He then went on to reflect a bit on his connection to Newton, whom he spent nine eventful years in Carolina with.
“He’s such an iconic figure for me personally, because we are connected a little bit. He was our first pick of the first pick of the 2011 draft and went on to be a rookie of the year and a league MVP. So, to a degree, I’m tied to him.”
Together, Newton and Rivera helped bring the franchise three NFC South championships and an NFC title from their magical 2015 campaign. While they’ll be on opposing sidelines at Bank of America Stadium this time, it’ll be nice—and even poetic—to have both men back in the building.