ESPN.com · Jan 9, 2018
Ron Rivera had to make changes for Cam Newton's career to move forward
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It was time.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had taken his game about as far as he could under offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey.
Coach Ron Rivera really didn't have a choice but to fire both coaches in order to move his franchise player forward.
It was almost as if Newton knew this was coming following Sunday's 31-26 loss to New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs when he said that "I hate that I could not do enough to get a win today for a lot of guys that I think so highly of."
He also said "certain things just have to happen."