Following Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Carolina Panthers were down.
Quarterback Cam Newton struggled again against a talented defense and the team lost its fourth straight game since winning in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. The team was feeling even worse on Monday morning, when owner Jerry Richardson fired longtime general manager Marty Hurney.
Hurney had been with the team since 1998 and oversaw numerous successful seasons, including the Panthers run to the Super Bowl in 2003.
"This was an extremely difficult decision," team owner Jerry Richardson said in a statement released by the team. "Marty made every effort to bring success to the Panthers and took the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC Championship Games. Unfortunately, we have not enjoyed the success we hoped for in recent years. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Marty and will always appreciate the way he tirelessly served the organization."
The team was expecting to contend for the playoffs one year after finishing 6-10. But the team, along with quarterback Cam Newton, has regressed and now the Panthers are hoping to not finish with the worst record in the league.
It is a stark difference from the preseason when center Ryan Khalil took out an ad in a local newspaper declaring that the Panthers would win the Super Bowl.
"I am very fortunate to have been a part of one of the best organizations in the NFL since 1998," Hurney said. "As general manager, I will always regret not helping us win the Super Bowl or having back-to-back winning seasons. I hope this change starts accomplishing the direction to those goals."
Charles Johnson, a defenseive end for the team wrote about the firing on Twitter, saying: "Marty wasn't the reason we are losing! That's bs! Unbelievable! Marty might be the realist GM that I know#InMyMind BS BS BS BS!"
Whether he was referring to it directly or not, one reason for the disappointing record for the Panthers has been the play of second-year quarterback Cam Newton.
Last season Newton set numerous NFL records for a rookie quarterback, but this year has suffered from a sophomore slump. He has not played as well during games and has proven to be immature and unable to provide leadership off the field.
A perfect example of this came following the game against the Cowboys on Sunday.
"Whether it's me, I don't know. Whether it's the coordinator, I don't know. Whether it's the players overall, I don't know," Newton said to the Associated Press. "(But) we got to change that man."
Making matters worse for Newton, he spoke about adding a suggestion box to the locker room and also called a reporter "sweetheart", which won't make him many friends in the media.
Said Newton during his press conference:
"I'm going to leave this room and I'm going to bring in a suggestion box and I want your suggestions to be in that suggestion box because I sure don't know. I really don't. I wish I could tell you. But the only thing I control, sweetheart, is myself. Offensively, I am the leader of this bunch and we haven't been getting the job done."
There have been numerous other examples this season.
During a blowout by the New York Giants in Week 3, Newton did a celebratory dance after scoring a touchdown while behind over 20 points. Later in that same game he was scolded on the sidelines by wide receiver Steve Smith for sulking and giving off bad body language.
"I don't want to be passive and not do it because if I don't do it, who will?" Smith said to the Associated Press at the time. "The same way with my son, I can't expect somebody else (to do that). So yeah, I lit into him because I thought it was an opportunity for him to see and understand what was going on. This is more than about playing football. It's about becoming a man and understanding what this is."
Newton was taken out of the Giants game after he threw an interception and the game was out of reach.
"I said, 'Get up and learn from this,'" Smith said. "I watched DA (Anderson) and Jimmy (Clausen) observe from the sidelines the last 20-something games and try to get mental reps. This is an opportunity for you to get some mental reps. Don't just sit on the bench and sulk. I know you feel bad, but that isn't going to help us."
Some critics have tried to come up with reasons for Newton's struggles, including the fact that he has won everywhere he has played before coming to Carolina. Newton won a championship in junior college and then led Auburn to an undefeated season on the way to winning a national championship.
Last season seems like ages ago for Newton.
In 2011 he passed for over 4,000 yards and 21 touchdowns while also rushing for 706 yards and 14 touchdowns. He won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and set a range of NFL records, including the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in his first two career starts and rookie passing records for completions (310), yards (4,051), passing touchdowns (21), completion percentage (60%), passer rating (84.5).
This season he has thrown only five touchdowns and has turned over the ball nine times. He is only completing 58 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating of 79.
Year two is always a big barometer for how an NFL quarterback is progressing in the league. Players are expected to grow into a leader, become more efficient, get a better handle of the offense and make smart decisions.
So far Newton has failed at those measurements, but there are still 10 games for him and the Panthers to prove they are better than their current record.
