4:21 PM
Quarterback CamNewton shouldered some of the blame for the Carolina Panthers firing offensive coordinator Joe Brady after a dismal showing against the Miami Dolphins before the bye week.
Do I think I had something to do with it? As he prepared to face the Atlanta Falcons,Newton said on Thursday. The competitor in me, yes. You don't lose your job because of success.
I have to do what I can to make sure that I have a job as well. Let's be honest.
In a loss at Miami, the quarterback had a career-worst 5.8 passer rating. He completed 5 of 21 pass attempts for 92 yards with two turnovers.
Brady was fired by Matt Rhule a week later and replaced by senior offensive assistant/running backs coach Jeff Nixon, who is one of only two Black offensive playcallers in the NFL.
The significance of Nixon's opportunity was not mentioned byNewton, who was so disappointed by his last performance and being 0-2 as the starter in his return to Carolina that he had little to say.
"It's a great story," he said. It's the NFL again. The league is based on production. I don't know if there is a need to say anything else. Is I excited for the opportunity? Yes. I am also disappointed in the opportunity. Yes. Joe was here prior to that.
The team that made him the top pick in the draft began to have struggles on the offensive side of the ball.
The first nine games of the season had seen the Panthers score only seven touchdown and go three straight games without scoring a touchdown.
Brady's inability to make adjustments after halftime and his reluctance to commit to the running game were the reasons for the change in coordinators.
Carolina is 31st in third-quarter scoring with 2.1 points. It is ranked 29th or worse in nine categories.
Rhule said he wanted only two rushes in the past nine games, but the panthers have reached the 30 to 33 rushes per game mark. They won both times, including a 19-13 victory at Atlanta, when they rushed for 203 yards on 47 attempts.
Nixon was Rhule's offensive coordinator at Baylor and the Bears averaged 36 rushes a game.
Nixon said that the coach hired him because he could be on the same page with Rhule on how the game should be called.
Nixon is one of two Black playcallers in the league. His focus is on Sunday and not on how his final five weeks will affect his future or the future of other black candidates.
Nixon said he was not going to lie. I'm proud to be in this position. I'm very happy that Coach Rhule gave me this opportunity. I'm going to make the most of it.
I don't take that lightly because I know there hasn't been a lot of people like me in the past. I'm going to do my best to represent others like me and do the best job I can.
Newton is fighting for his future as well. He has a contract with a guaranteed value of $4.5 million and a roster bonus of 1.5 million.
He wants to help the Carolinas remain in the playoffs. There are 10 teams with four to six wins that are fighting for a wild-card spot.
The feel-good part of his return to the Carolinas is over, according toNewton.
"Man, I'm here to win, I've lost my past 10 games as the starter, but I'm here to win again," saidNewton, who will be released in 2020. Everyone else gets promotions when we win. People get cut along the way when we don't.
