Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is open to having superstar quarterback Cam Newton sit out the entire 2019 season.
Newton has struggled the past year to stay healthy, and shutting him down for an extended period of time might be an option Carolina takes a hard look at. (RELATED: Carolina Panthers QB Talking About The Memory Of His Dead Father Will Pull At Your Heartstrings)
Tepper told the media the following Tuesday, according to ESPN:
If you told me he took a year off and could recover and be fully recovered and everything else, and that’s what it took, an extra year, why wouldn’t you do [that]?’ … Now we would have to do other things, right? We’d have to go out and get another quarterback. If you could find me some more cap space I’d appreciate that.’
I’m not sure fans of the Panthers would love to see Newton not take a snap in 2019, but it might what’s best for the organization.
Newton is an elite quarterback when he’s healthy, and that’s not easy find at all in the NFL. Only one comes into the league every few years. (RELATED: Here Are The Best Moments You Might Have Missed From The NFL Divisional Playoff Games)
Cam can be that guy, but he first needs to get healthy on a regular basis.
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If the Panthers really push him, they run the risk of only making his health that much more fragile.
Personally, as a coach or the owner, I’d have no issue with shutting him down for a season to get him healed up if it’s the best option.
These NFL teams are worth billions of dollars. You have to look at the long term. You can’t always simply play for tomorrow. That’s not smart business.
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Let him go through the spring and summer, and then re-evaluate where he’s at in August. If there are still lingering health concerns, then I’d shut him down.
Of course, I’m not the owner but I’d like to believe he’s an avid reader looking for advice.