The owner of the Carolina Panthers, David Tepper, has spoken at length about the future of quarterback Cam Newton – and sounds less euphoric than the signal caller himself.

What will happen for quarterback Cam Newton at the Carolina Panthers? If he has his way, he will “definitely” return to the Panthers for the upcoming 2020 NFL season.

That’s what Newton said on the sidelines at the Super Bowl in Miami just over a week ago. The owner of the franchise, David Tepper, on the other hand, does not sound quite so euphoric.

When asked about Newton’s future with the Panthers, Tepper said somewhat cryptically on “ESPN”: “I’m not a doctor. I’ve said it a million times now, is he really healthy? He’s not a doctor either. So many things can still happen. Is he really healthy? Then we can talk.”

A decision is expected in March on the Newton case

Background: The quarterback has had to struggle with injuries over and over again in the past years and missed some season games because of that. In December 2019 he underwent surgery on his left foot. As “ESPN” claims to have found out, the Panthers want to take a close look at Newton and his state of health in March and then decide how to proceed with him.

I like to say it again, with Cam the question is how healthy he really is”, Tepper said. “For us, the all-decisive question is to see how fit he is or when he will be back at one hundred percent – or not. In the end, everything depends on it.”

“Wants to prove it to everyone again.”

So things remain exciting in Charlotte. Trade also does not seem to be completely excluded. But Newton apparently wants to fight for his chance at the Panthers: “I’ve now reached a position where I myself told our new head coach Matt Rhule that he won’t find anyone else who is more committed to this franchise and who is hungrier for success than I am. And I want to prove that not only to him and the fans, but most of all to myself. That I still have the skills to play American football at a very high level.”

Whether he gets that chance in Carolina, the coming weeks will show.