Cam Newton backs Ryan Kalil’s Super Bowl claim.
Written by Adrian Gregory Glover // July 30, 2012 // NFL // No comments
Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton has his center Ryan Kalil’s back. After Kalil took out a newspaper ad in the Charlotte Observer that boldly predicted a Super Bowl win for his franchise, he was scoffed at by just about everyone outside of his organization.
After witnessing Newton’s comments on the matter on today’s inaugural run of the NFL Network’s NFL AM talk show, it could be said that the ad has become a flag for the team to rally around.
“Well if anybody on this team if they go out on a limb and make a statement we have to back him up 110 percent, every single play, Newton said.
“We’re out here trying to sharpen plays and work on technique. And we’re just going to try to do our part. Each day and each play at a time.”
Although they support him, Newton says that they had no idea that the media strike was forthcoming.
“We just found out when the world found out,” Newton said. “But Kalil is a veteran in this league and has been doing his part for years and years. For him to go out on limb and say that, that means he has unbelievable trust in us and I think that’s building camaraderie around here and we’re going to need it as the Carolina Panthers.”
Cooler heads would have started off with ‘we’ll make the playoffs in 2012,’ or ‘we’ll win the NFC South division crown.’
But you play to win it all and now that the highest profile Panther has taken up with the statement, the expectations in that part of the country just grew a few inches.
