Mike Shula knows how vital Cam Newton is to the Carolina Panthers, particularly after the franchise rewarded him with a $103.8 million contract extension.
Yet Carolina's offensive coordinator isn't about to put Newton in shackles when it comes to running out of the read-option or scrambling from the pocket — despite the obvious increased risk of injury.
"You have to let him play, give him the ability to do what he does best," Shula told The Associated Press. "And you have to appreciate that Cam understands that, too. He's not going to play cautiously, but he's going to play smart."
Shula said he doesn't mind if the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton takes on a defender one on one — in fact with his size, he likes those odds — but said he wants the fifth-year quarterback to "get down" if multiple defenders engage him in the open field. Newton runs the ball more than any quarterback in the NFL, averaging 642 yards rushing per season, with 33 touchdowns the last four seasons. Some scrambling QB know how to play smart and some don't. Fantasy owners should be able to enjoy the added bonus of Newton's rushing yards but they'll also need him to stay healthy and on the field.
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