The NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2015 is still looking for work for in 2020. Would a reunion in D.C. be good for Cam Newton and the Washington Redskins?
It certainly seems like an ideal solution. The same year that the Carolina Panthers hired Ron Rivera to be their head coach in 2011, the franchise made University of Auburn quarterback Cam Newton the first overall pick in the NFL draft. The duo would grow together and after a few rough seasons and a 1-3 start in 2013, the team took off and won 11 of its final 12 outings and the NFC South crown.
It would be the first of three straight division titles for the club (albeit the team finished 7-8-1 in ’14) and the third was complimented with an appearance in Super Bowl 50. After a rough 2016, the Panthers were back in the playoffs in ’17 as a wild card with an 11-5 mark. And Newton and company were off to a 6-2 start two years ago.
Then as is the case far too often, an injury can change a lot. The talented signal-caller took a shot to the shoulder in a Thursday night loss at Pittsburgh. He was never the same, the Panthers slumped and Newton would have offseason surgery. Then came a foot injury last summer and after two games and losses a year ago, he would be done for the season.
As it turned out, he would be done with the team that drafted him. Of course, Rivera didn’t make it through 2019 as well, fired after a home loss to the Redskins in Week 13. Now “Riverboat Ron” is at the helm of Daniel Snyder’s team and the club has been busy adding new faces on both sides of the ball. That includes former Panthers’ quarterback Kyle Allen, acquired via trade earlier this year.
So it begs the question. Could Newton rejoin his former head coach, this time in a different venue? It would be very ideal considering 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins is still learning and to be honest, so is Allen? The inspirational story of veteran Alex Smith (via his wife Elizabeth with ESPN’s Stephania Bell) continues but his return remains uncertain. In truth, the Redskins could use a third quarterback and Newton looks to be healthy after a rough year and a half. If the team and the player can make it work, it makes an awful lot of sense.