Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton has confirmed what anyone watching Monday night’s debacle already knew: he’s hurt.
The Philadelphia Eagles treated Newton the way a boot treats a doormat on Monday night, leading many observers to suggest he should be pulled halfway through the 45-21 beatdown that wasn’t even that close. Head coach Ron Rivera insisted on Tuesday that Newton wasn’t injured, but on Wednesday, Newton conceded that he is “hurt,” which is a small but critical distinction.
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“Injured” means, in effect, you’re out; “hurt,” you can tough it out. And clearly, that’s what Newton intends to do.
“Hurt is hurt. If you’re asking me, am I hurt right now? Yeah, I’m hurt. I haven’t, you know, felt 100 percent in a long time,” Newton told reporters. “You ask me a question, ‘Is Cam Newton hurt?’ Yes, I’m hurt. And that’s all honesty. But can I play? Yes, I can play and I will be playing. It’s mind over matter.”
Newton and the Panthers play the Atlanta Falcons this weekend in what is virtually an elimination game in the NFC South. Those two teams, along with New Orleans, still have a shot at winning this misbegotten division, making this weekend’s game a critical one. You wouldn’t think that Newton would need to be at 100 percent — or, heck, even 30 percent — to beat the woeful Falcons, but if Carolina’s to have any chance of returning to the playoffs, it needs Newton in far better condition than he is right now.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter.
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