New Panthers head coach Ron Rivera announced Sunday that first overall draft pick will start Thursday's game against Cincinnati and play three quarters, but declined to name a starter for Week 1 of the regular season:
Cam Newton To Start Against Bengals On Thursday; Regular Season Starter Still Undecided
We’re still in the evaluation process to be quite honest. After having gone through the game, where we did some good things but not enough, the big that that we have to do is continue to evaluate the situation and circumstances. We’ve only really gone through about three-and-a-half, four weeks of training camp, so to rush into a decision I think would be kind of absurd. What we want to do is see how he handles this whole game week preparation.
After 2010 second-round pick Jimmy Clausen started the first two weeks of the preseason, it's time to give Cam Newton some game reps with the first team. He's been average at best in his action, going 15-33 on his pass attempts for a total of 200 yards and no touchdowns.
There’s a lot of speculation floating around that this means Newton should be considered the regular season starter until further notice. I’m not so sure. Usually I don’t believe coaches ever, but Rivera has a good point. Two weeks of practice and two preseason games are an eternity in the post-lockout football world. A lot can happen, and a quarterback can easily set himself apart from his competition in that time.
Whichever QB wins the Panthers’ job, however, shouldn’t get too excited. Past Steve Smith, it’s a desolate, depressing situation at wide receiver in Charlotte.
For more Panthers news, head over to SB Nation’s Panthers blog, Cat Scratch Reader.
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