Cam Newton says 'hell yeah' he's a Hall of Famer, but is that true?
Cam Newton accomplished numerous feats during his career.The former No. 1 overall pick led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance in the 2015 season. He also holds nearly every Panthers franchise quarterback record, and Carolina has struggled to replace him since he was cut from the roster during the unsavory […]
Cam Newton accomplished numerous feats during his career.
The former No. 1 overall pick led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance in the 2015 season. He also holds nearly every Panthers franchise quarterback record, and Carolina has struggled to replace him since he was cut from the roster during the unsavory Matt Rhule era.
The jury is out on if Newton will find his way into the NFL Hall of Fame. However, on a recent episode of "Funky Friday with Cam Newton," the former star quarterback said it's a no-brainer regarding his Hall of Fame credentials.
“Hell yeah,” Newton said when asked if he would find his way into the Hall of Fame. "I think it was Kanye [West] who said it. When I first came into the league, it was only one of me. Now, when I look around the league, I see so many me’s."
It is true — Newton was a trendsetter. He was one of the first modern-day duel-threat, bigger-bodied quarterbacks.
However, the main problem with Newton was his inconsistency. His arm was powerfully inaccurate. His fundamentals often broke down. And has he lost a step with his athleticism, he struggled to find success with the Panthers and elsewhere.
The lowest point of Newton's career was his New England tenure.
After being cut by the Panthers, Newton landed a deal with the Patriots to revive a career ailing due to injuries and lack of production.
His first three weeks in New England were serviceable. His peak in a Patriots jersey came in a 2020 Week 2 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks when Newton threw for nearly 400 yards while collecting three total touchdowns. The Patriots lost that game 35-30, but it was believed that the old Newton returned.
That wasn't the case.
By the start of the 2021 season, Newton was beaten out for the starting spot by Mac Jones. He was quickly dispersed to free agency after. He caught on with the Panthers for a handful of games again but never looked like the Newton of old.
So, to the question, is Newton a Hall of Famer? The answer is relatively unknown. No one can deny his influence on football, but he also never won the big one.
Quarterbacks are judged by how many big games they win during their career. Newton, though he has a few, doesn't have the most important one.
He is still a three-time Pro Bowler, league MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Year, and one-time All-Pro. If he is never inducted into the Hall of Fame, that is still an impressive resume.
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