DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2014 NFL Season Looking Back: Browns 13 Panthers 17 Will it be Cam Newton or Derek Anderson?

'Rivera: Newton must be ready to go'

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/120328...ot-rushed-field

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will return to the starting lineup Sunday against Cleveland only if he is able to protect himself, coach Ron Rivera said Monday.

Newton suffered two small fractures in his lower back last Tuesday when his truck rolled in a two-vehicle accident near Bank of America Stadium.

The injury is similar to what Dallas quarterback Tony Romo suffered earlier in the season in a Monday night game. Romo missed his next start, then returned the following week with the understanding there would be a certain amount of pain tolerance needed.

Newton did not play in Sunday's 19-17 victory over Tampa Bay. If he can't go against Cleveland, Derek Anderson will start against the team that cut him after the 2009 season.

"The biggest factor will be whether or not they tell me he can protect himself,'' Rivera said. "I don't want to put a guy out there if he can't protect himself. By that, [I mean] being able to run out of the way, scramble out of the way to stay alive, keep the play alive by being able to get out of the way.''

Rivera used the same criteria in deciding to hold Newton out in the opener against Tampa Bay. Newton was recovering from fractured ribs and offseason ankle surgery and wasn't 100 percent in his ability to run and avoid the rush.

Rivera wants to make a decision as soon as possible. He said that probably won't come until he sees how -- or if -- Newton is able to practice Wednesday.

Ideally, Rivera would like Newton to be a part of every practice. That Newton was limited in practice before the opener played a role in him not playing that week.

"Mastering what we do is hard,'' Rivera said. "Two weeks ago, it all came to fruition for us. The Saints game was the high-water mark for him this year.''

Newton completed 21-of-33 pass attempts for 226 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-10 victory at New Orleans. He also ran 12 times for 83 yards and a touchdown as Carolina amassed 497 total yards.

That the Panthers (5-8-1) remain in contention with New Orleans (5-8) and Atlanta (5-9) for the NFC South title will not factor into Rivera's decision on Newton any more than it would have had Carolina been out of the playoff picture.

"What we do is treat it like we do whether we are or aren't,'' Rivera said. "We're not giving anything up, win or lose. We're playing every week as if there's something really important on the line, like there is.

"Believe me, I don't do that.''

The Panthers received good news in that the hyperextended left knee outside linebacker Thomas Davis suffered Sunday was not serious. Rivera said Davis may be limited in practice early in the week, adding that he should be a full go by Friday.

Carolina also reinstated defensive end Frank Alexander, who was suspended for the first 14 games -- two separate suspensions, four and 10 games -- for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The Panthers were granted a roster exemption for Alexander, who Rivera called the most valuable player during training camp.


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It will really suck if Derek Anderson starts, does well, and Manziel has a bad game.

It will be very interesting to see how Manziel fairs these last couple of games. I wouldn't be surprised if they trade him when the season is over and get someone else in the draft. Just a feeling I have, even before he started his first game. I just don't think they care for his antics and attitude at times.

I REALLY hope Manziel lights it up. A couple of my Steeler fans/friends on Facebook are already foaming at the mouth from the last game. 'To be expected.'

hope cam starts. DA hasnt lost a game as starter this year!!!

Our fall from the ranks of the possible will be complete with a loss to DA.

That wouldnt be funny

I would seriously roll with laughter, lol!
It's just how Cleveland does things.

It would be very funny to DA. I seem to remember him wanting to beat us after he was cut. For me it does not matter, this game is meaningless and we should probably lose out for draft position.

Doesn't matter, I don't have any hope for the offense.

If DA "rolls" us, I'll puke.

I don' think DA will roll us... I think it will be 24-21 2 seconds left on the clock game winning TD drive.

I can't believe he is still in the league.

I don't think it matters which QB plays to be quite honest, but we probably have a better shot at winning with Derek Anderson behind center, just cause he isn't mobile like Newton. If we get the defense that played Indianapolis, we'll be in the game until the very end.

If we get the offense that showed up last Sunday in Cleveland (or didn't show up?) then it won't matter who their QB is. Ryan Lindley from the Cardinals would be able to beat us.

I'm not really worried about the Panthers, they're not very good, but then again these last few weeks, we have not been very good....

When you suck as bad as we did, they pile it on. Everybody will be healed, will start, will play like PB, and we watch JM stink it up again perhaps. DA, Mr. Potato Cannon, can beat us with secondary leftovers.

Ye gods, but I hate to watch bad football. Only thing worse is scoreless bad football.

A terrifying thought I had: One movie that might be most horrifying for a Browns fan is Groundhog Day if it was last Sunday.

Every game matters to me I am tired of having losing seasons, we have a shot at 8-8 9-7 and to me that shows progress I mean It sure beats 4-12

I'm hearing that Carolina's defense has finally woken up and is playing well.

Amen.

7-9 is progress too

......

Dr. Jeckle or Mr. Hyde?

if the Browns want a .500 or winning season, they better do it this year. This was their chance. Next year the Browns face the NFC west and AFC West. Good luck with that.

Wasn't that what the posters use to call DA back in the day?

Doesn't matter to me who starts...as long as we win.

I hope that the Browns don't need luck anymore and that they can utilize their skills now. We'll see. Here's hoping.

MMQB ran an article about the AFC North being the best division in the NFL and many of the blurbs were about this last Cinci game. The Bengals were looking at RGIII's and Manziels college tape. Had we simply kept the same offense we have been running, it would have been Cinci that was unprepared. Sigh.

Depends on which day.

I remember him wanting to come back last year and play for Chud.. saying he felt he had unfinished business to do here...

That strategy has been very effective over the years. We always play for draft picks and it has led to such great success.

Back to the topic.

I wish we would have signed DA last year when Chud came here. He's matured and right now I think he gives Carolina a better opportunity to win than Cam does.

Vers,

You might be right that DA gives them a better chance to win on one specific, given day...

but over a season, or multiple seasons, I don't think DA does that for them.

I agree w/that.

Well this Sunday I'm glad it's DA.

We absolutely suck against mobile quarterbacks.

Looking at the injuries and the way the team played against the BenGALS, they have already mailed it in on both sides of the ball. I just hope Johnny doesn't get killed in the process.

If the team plays like they did last Sunday it does not matter which one starts we will lose

Quoted for truth!

I'd laugh my butt off and be happy for DA. The way he was treated like he was a scum bag while he was here, he deserves the opportunity to stomp us in the ground. His lack of touch and inaccuracy at the time were both fixable issues. I also thought that he was partially a victim of BE's constant drops as well. He has lasted longer in this league than both Frye and Quinn

The only reason the organization and fans didn't back him was because of a first round pick waiting in the winds and people were too hung up on that potential (sounds familiar).

I want DA to play. He's not mobile and not accurate when rattled. I have no faith in our O doing anything positive but I'd like to think our D was just off last week and didn't mail it in. If they did mail it in, we're screwed.

I backed him until he started to suck REALLY badly. He ended up being awful by the time the team let him go. I don't think most disliked him because Brady Quinn was on the bench, I think most disliked him because he wasn't a good QB. If a guy doesn't perform at a position, I want him replaced. I don't care what that guy's name is or where he was drafted.

I feel the same way. If DA starts and wins, I'd feel happy for him. The Cleveland fans did not treat him well.

How did Cleveland fans not treat him well? Please don't say it's because they cheered when he was hurt since they were cheering for Quinn's entrance into the game and not the fact that Anderson was hurt. Other than that instance, I can't think of anything that can be perceived as poor treatment.