AUBURN — After not playing at all during the 2022 season, Cam Newton was able to show what he can still do.
Newton pitched in front of scouts at a professional event Tuesday in Auburn, where he won a Heisman Trophy and a national championship in the 2010 season.
The 2015 NFL MVP was invited to pitch at Auburn by his younger brother, Caylin, a former quarterback at Howard who finished his college career as a wide receiver at Auburn and William & Mary.
“It was him showing me love,” Caylin Newton said of her older brother. “He doesn’t owe anyone anything. He’s had an incredible journey, an incredible career in the NFL. He has nothing to prove to anyone. … he came to demonstrate his ability, to show that he still has it.
“I think, for him, this was a selfless act. But it was also to show and prove to everyone that he is not sitting down. He still has it. Whatever organization wants to land a winning quarterback, the number of him is still open and available.”
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Cam Newton declined to speak to reporters in Auburn on Tuesday. During practice, Newton threw more than 30 passes to a number of Auburn NFL hopefuls, including wide receiver Shedrick Jackson.
“That was fun,” Jackson said. “That was probably my favorite part, learning the lingo from him, seeing the cadence from her. He has a good touch on the ball. … I think he still has it.”
In perhaps the highlight of practice, Newton displayed his trademark wrestling ability in the pocket before throwing a 50-yard pass downfield to his younger brother.
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Newton, who has played 11 professional seasons, has not attempted a pass in an NFL game since Dec. 26, 2021. He rejoined the Carolina Panthers midway through the 2021 season and went 0-5 at quarterback. of title field.
Newton’s last full season in the league was in 2020, when he was a member of the New England Patriots. Newton was a three-time Pro Bowl selection in his first stint with the Panthers, where he earned AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, as well as leading the team to Super Bowl 50.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft made headlines Monday night when he announced on social media that he would be pitching on Auburn’s pro day.
“Tell me how these randoms keep getting jobs?” Newton said in a video posted on Twitter. Don’t worry about that. I’m going to show you. I can’t wait to show you.”
According to his younger brother, Newton has been working hard to get back into the league after a year’s absence.
“What everyone sees on the television screen, they see her character and they see her confidence,” said Caylin Newton.
“They don’t see the sand. They don’t see how many hours he puts in. So the media has what they say about who he is. I know who he is. And wherever he’s been, they also know who he is.”
