- According to David Newton of ESPN.com, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton threw in practice on Wednesday for the first time since undergoing unexpected off-season shoulder surgery. The former NFL MVP took a step backwards in 2016 and his unexpected surgery could be an indicator as to why.
- Coming off an elite performance in 2015, earning a 90.1 overall grade and ranking fifth among quarterbacks, Newton took a major step backwards in 2016. His 76.1 overall grade was the lowest of his career.
- One area Newton saw a major dip in production was on deep passes (passes traveling 20+ yards). His 2015 deep passing quarterback rating of 107.4 ranked third among all quarterbacks. In 2016 his deep passing quarterback rating dropped to 87.3, which ranked just 17th among qualifiers.
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