Tepper commented that he wanted to be upfront with Rivera about it - that several other teams were hunting for coaches behind the current coach's back, and that he didn't want to do that. It's probably best for both - Panthers get to search earlier, and Rivera gets to start interviewing ahead of the pack of other coaches who are going to be cut. I suspect he will pick up a HC or DC job pretty quickly.
It wouldn't surprise me if Newton is still there next year, but spends most of his time on the bench to be brought in sporadically as some sort of option/wildcat offense. He COULD start next year, but they'd have to make some real moves to build an O-line worth a **** in the off season.
It wouldn't surprise me if Newton is still there next year, but spends most of his time on the bench to be brought in sporadically as some sort of option/wildcat offense. He COULD start next year, but they'd have to make some real moves to build an O-line worth a **** in the off season.