If there’s one person who knows exactly the situation Cam Newton is in, it’s Kurt Warner. There are glaring similarities between their career paths, not necessarily in the way that they made it to the NFL, but with the accolades they collected early on.
Both won NFL MVP awards, were selected to the Pro Bowl three times in their first five years, made it to the Super Bowl (Warner did it twice with the Rams) and were eventually cut after injuries caused them to miss significant time.
Just as the Panthers did with Newton this offseason, the Rams cut Warner in 2004 after a decorated tenure in St. Louis. Warner was scooped up by the Giants and eventually wound up with the Cardinals where he made a fourth Pro Bowl and reached his third Super Bowl, proving he still had plenty left in the tank despite being in his mid-30s.
Newton isn’t quite that old, but Warner is confident the new Patriots quarterback can bounce back in a similar fashion. Warner penned an article at NFL.com detailing his demise with the Rams and why he thinks Newton still has a lot to give as a quarterback.
Like Cam, I’d been slowed by injuries, but I still believed I had a lot to offer. Also like Cam, I was given another chance to show what I had left in the tank. So while we wait to see how Cam’s second NFL act turns out in New England, I thought I’d revisit that portion of my playing days, to help those who have never been in this kind of situation better understand some of what Newton has experienced.
Newton landed in a great situation with the Patriots, who have been the most successful team of the last two decades. He has Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator, Bill Belichick leading him as the head coach and a defense that’s still Super Bowl-worthy.
All he has to do is beat out Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, and he’ll quickly be back on the path to success. Warner’s time with the Giants was rocky, as were his first three years with the Cardinals. But Arizona stuck with him and he returned the favor with a Super Bowl appearance.
Newton probably won’t be given the same level of patience if he flops with the Patriots, but he shouldn’t be counted out too quickly – and Warner is a perfect example as to why.
The good news is, I am a walking example that perception is NOT always reality. I was given two more opportunities — with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals — to prove that the overriding perception of me as a player was not accurate. I was able to return to form, playing at a Pro Bowl level and reaching the Super Bowl once more.
Knowing Cam’s track record and the competitor that lies within him, I would not be surprised if he once again rose to the top of the league.
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