CHARLOTTE -- Quarterback 's road back from shoulder surgery continued in the defense's portion of the Panthers' locker room.
Because Newton had tossed a football thousands of times in his life, it was a somewhat silly scene. Multiple cameras milled about while Newton, with a long-sleeved shirt tucked into his shorts, readied to play a short, simple and scheduled game of catch with head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion. But this is what happens when so much of a franchise's hopes rest on one player's shoulder. And that's why this seemingly little deal was bigger than a couple of guys playing catch.