Luke Kuechly on Cam Newton, Panthers: 'He'll be back'
Former linebacker Luke Kuechly was on hand for last week's premiere of "Super Men," The Charlotte Observer's new documentary about the 2015 Panthers. During the question-and-answer portion of the screening, Kuechly said that he thinks Cam Newton—a fellow pillar of that Super Bowl 50 squad—will eventually reunite with the organization.
'He'll be back,' Kuechly stated, per Scott Fowler and Théoden Janes. "I think it's just one of those things that's gotta work out timing-wise, to get everybody on the same page and back around."
The relationship between Newton and the Panthers, at least in recent years, hasn't been particularly strong. Last November, Newton stated that he believed the organization was "avoiding his legacy" after seeing few, if any photos of himself during a visit to Bank of America Stadium earlier that year.
Since then, the Panthers have poked at their all-time leading passer—including him in a number of social media posts. They've also, in a statement from a team spokesperson in March, expressed that their "doors are open" for Newton.
Newton, of course, was the key member of that 2015 squad. He led Carolina to a 15-1 regular-season record and their second-ever NFC championship crown while be named the franchise's only Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year.
Although he's yet to officially retire, Newton's playing days are almost certainly behind him. His last NFL down came in Week 18 of the 2021 campaign, the end of his second tenure with the Panthers.This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Luke Kuechly on Cam Newton, Panthers: 'He'll be back'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a few seconds ago
- Yahoo
Buffalo Bills' Blue and Red game updates: Josh Allen wears throwback red helmet
The Buffalo Bills have returned to Highmark Stadium. Buffalo will hold its annual "Return of the Blue and Red" practice in Orchard Park on Saturday evening. Tickets to the practice were free to the public. This page will be updated throughout the night. Buffalo Bills injury and rest day update The following players did not practice at the "Return of the Red and Blue": DE Joey Bosa, CB Maxwell Hairston, OL Alec Anderson, LB Matt Milano, CB Tre'Davious Whit, WR Curtis Samuel, LB Terrel Bernard, S Cole Bishop, LB Dorian Williams, OL Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OT Spencer Brown, WR Kaden Prather. Maxwell Hairston arrives on crutches Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston entered the field on crutches. Hairston avoided an ACL injury at Tuesday's training camp practice but is expected to be out at least a week or two with a PCL injury. Josh Allen takes the field with throwback red helmet Bills fans didn't need to wait until Week 18 to see Josh Allen in a throwback red helmet. Allen came out of the tunnel to a huge ovation while wearing the red helmet of Buffalo's Super Bowl-era teams. Allen also sported a red visor. The Killers' "Mr. Brightside' played on the stadium loudspeakers as he ran onto the field. Buffalo will wear its red helmet - which was the team's helmet from 1987 through 2001, in Week 18 against the New York Jets in the last game at Highmark Stadium. Allen immediately started playing catch with fans in the stands. Tyler Bass warms up after missing practices Kicker Tyler Bass warmed up prior to practice. Bass has missed the last three practiced at St. John Fisher University with pelvic area soreness. Bills players sign autographs before practice Wide receivers Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman were among the players signing autographs more than 30 minutes before practice started at 5:30 p.m. Fans line up hours before the start of practice It's just a practice but that didn't stop Bills Mafia from waiting for the gates to open at 4 p.m. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills 'Return of the Blue and Red' game updates, highlights
New York Times
2 minutes ago
- New York Times
Harrison Bader arrives, but sits as Phillies delay major outfield decisions
PHILADELPHIA — Rescued from the raging fire sale in Minnesota, Harrison Bader stepped into a pennant race Friday afternoon with a locker in the middle of the Phillies clubhouse and a nice, new number — 2 — on his back. He was the lone offensive reinforcement acquired by the Phillies at a frenzied trade deadline. Advertisement He was not in the lineup. Asked if he knew what his role would be with the Phillies, Bader answered wryly, 'Uhh, probably going to play some outfield.' Everyone laughed. But there are legitimate questions about how the Phillies will construct their outfield in the immediate and later on. The plan for now, as manager Rob Thomson described it, calls for two platoons in center field and left field. The Phillies will face alternating righty and lefty starters for the next six games. Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler will play against the righties. Bader and probably Weston Wilson will play against the lefties. 'For six days,' Thomson said. 'And then once we get to that point, we'll figure it out.' It's a curious decision, given that Bader has enjoyed a better season than any of the Phillies' current outfielders. The Phillies targeted him at the deadline because he's an exceptional defender and has made adjustments to lean into his pull-side power. That has resulted in success against both lefties and righties this season. The Phillies optioned Johan Rojas to Triple A. He'll play regularly there; most of his time will be spent in the corner outfield spots because the organization believes Justin Crawford needs as much development time as possible in center field. Crawford, according to team sources, remains in play for a promotion. But the entire situation is muddled. There was a robust debate Thursday night and Friday morning in the front office and the manager's office about how the outfield should look moving forward. It makes sense for Bader to play, especially given that he is their best outfield defender. He has hit. The Phillies do not currently have a regular outfielder who has both hit and fielded well for a consistent period in 2025. One of Dave Dombrowski's tenets is not to influence lineup decisions. The veteran executive has said it's the manager's job. For now, the front office will defer to Thomson. Advertisement 'I mean, he's going to play a lot,' Dombrowski said. 'The lineup will be Topper's decision, of course. We're happy to get him.' Thomson, essentially, is delaying major decisions with his plan. It's a decision that runs counter to what the Phillies did last summer upon acquiring Austin Hays. He profiled as a platoon player, but Thomson said Hays deserved a chance to be an everyday outfielder when he arrived. Bader's .432 slugging percentage against righties would be tied for fourth on the current Phillies. It's higher than any of their current outfielders. Isn't there an inclination not to platoon Bader? 'Yes, there is,' Thomson said. 'But the way it is for the next six days, it works out pretty well for everybody. But I can see him playing against right-handed pitching as well.' Kepler has hit .205/.306/.366 against righties this season. He is 5-for-33 with one extra-base hit since the All-Star break. 'Well, I mean, he's been swinging the bat a lot better,' Thomson said. 'He doesn't have many numbers because he's hitting the ball right at people.' Kepler's 89.3 mph average exit velocity in July is his lowest in any month this season, although he's averaged 96 mph on his batted balls this week. Maybe that has swayed the manager. Team sources described a fluid situation. In six days, the team may settle on a regular outfield that has Marsh in left and Bader in center. But there's another scenario where the Phillies summon Crawford, stick him in left field, and open a conversation about Nick Castellanos' playing time in right. Entering Friday, Castellanos had a 102-point difference in OPS between lefties (.867) and righties (.765). But Castellanos believes he is an everyday player and has pushed back at being removed even for defensive purposes. He has batted in the middle of the lineup for most of the season and produced, so a change could feel extreme. It's at least a consideration. Advertisement For now, the Phillies have improved the outfield options, which puts more emphasis on production. If Kepler cannot see results from the hard-hit balls, he'd lose playing time to Bader. If Marsh or Castellanos struggles, the Phillies could be compelled to bring Crawford. 'We think he's ready to play at the big-league level,' Dombrowski said. 'We could bring him up. If we do bring him, he needs to play a lot.' In Bader, the Phillies acquired one of the better outfielders who was dealt at the deadline. It was not a robust group. Ramón Laureano was a consideration. The others traded were Miguel Andujar, Alex Call, Randal Grichuk, Cedric Mullins, James Outman, Jesús Sánchez, Austin Slater and Mike Yastrezemski. The Phillies were interested in Cleveland's Steven Kwan, but no one met the Guardians' high asking price. Had the Phillies not landed closer Jhoan Duran, their primary target, they could have pivoted to a more aggressive offer for Kwan. Instead, they went for a marginal upgrade in Bader. And he is an upgrade, so long as he plays. 'Topper constructs the lineup the way he does,' Bader said. 'But my intention is to go out there and play my brand of baseball. Just be myself. It's really the only thing I know how to do, both on and off the field. I'm just going to help this team win. I've been injected into a playoff race. All the notions of ego and me and my playing time, that'll go out the window. I'm here to win.' (Photo of Bader: Matt Blewett / Imagn Images)
Fox News
2 minutes ago
- Fox News
Aaron Rodgers suggests he heeded advice of mystery wife's sister-in-law before signing with Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has kept his personal life very close to the chest and criticized anyone who has tried to pry into it over the last few months. Rodgers has said he is married to a woman who is a very private person and has attempted to keep a barrier between what goes on behind closed doors and everyone trying to take a peek. However, The Athletic reported on Friday that Rodgers had taken advice from his sister-in-law about whether to sign with the Steelers. "I was taking orders from my (new) sister-in-law, Mia," he told the outlet. "She's 20 and she's the brains of the family; you just have to ask her. No — but that is partially serious for sure," he continued. "Every team that I talked to, I said, 'Listen, if I play, I'm not going to take a ton of money. I've made a ton of money. I don't need the money.'" The four-time MVP is married to a woman named Brittani, but not much else is known about her. Rodgers hasn't been keen on divulging information. He vented about the "sick society" of the paparazzi trying to get a glimpse of her, in an interview on "The Pat McAfee Show" back in June. "I had people calling the paparazzi. I had people posting personal life on the internet. Now, I didn't want any of that, didn't like doing that, and now I'm with somebody who's private, who doesn't want to be in the public eye, didn't sign up to be a celebrity, doesn't want to be a part of it," Rodgers began. "And because I do things in private, because I want my personal life to be private, now I'm weird. "What happened to common decency about security and a personal life that we now have to dive into your details of where you live and what you're doing, who you're with and what you're doing and who your wife is, if you even have a wife, if you're doing some sort of attention-grabbing thing? Because my wife is a private person, doesn't have social media, hasn't been a public person, doesn't want to be a public person, and that's somehow now a weird thing? . . . . "The entitlement to information about my private life is so f---ing ridiculous and embarrassing. Hey, do what you gotta do. Just try and leave me out of a conversation, sports world, for a month. Try to leave me out, my personal life, my professional life. Try not to talk about me. Try to still be relevant for the next six weeks, five weeks, whatever it is. See if you can do that." Rodgers' one-year deal is reportedly worth $13.65 million. He's made clear that the 2025 season could very well be his last, and the Steelers have made sure to put a team around him that is worthy of challenging for the postseason. Pittsburgh added wide receivers DK Metcalf and Robert Woods to the roster as well as tight end Jonnu Smith. The team traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for Jalen Ramsey, added Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill and drafted Derrick Harmon.
