Cam Newton appears on his way to becoming a smarter

more efficient passer.It’s only been https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/J.J.-Jansen-Jersey two games, but the Panthers‘ eighth-year quarterback is completing a career-best 69 percent of his passes 鈥?well above his career completion mark of 58.3 percent 鈥?entering Sunday’s game against the unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals.Those numbers may not turn a lot of heads, but the Panthers (1-1) believe it’s a sign that Newton is gaining a solid grasp on new offensive coordinator Norv Turner’s scheme and developing as a passer. He’s being more patient, often working through his progressions and finding his second, third and sometimes fourth options on pass plays.That was evident last Sunday when Newton completed 14 passes to running back Christian McCaffrey resulting in 102 yards 鈥?most of those on “check downs,” where Newton was forced to read the defense and wait until the play developed before releasing the football.“He’s made a lot of good decisions these first two games,” coach Ron Rivera said. “I’m real excited about the progress Cam has shown in terms of understanding and getting a feel for what coach Turner wants.”The 2015 league MVP completed 32 of 45 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-24 loss to the Falcons on Sunday 鈥?although those numbers would have been higher had his receivers not dropped five passes, including one bobbled ball that resulted in Newton’s only interception of the season.Despite the loss, Rivera praised Newton’s performance.“He was patient, he went through his reads and he didn’t force balls in,” Rivera said. “And he threw check downs when he needed to. And that was huge. … Not always do you have to force the ball in or take off running.”Rivera expects Newton’s completion percentage will increase the more time he spends in Turner’s offense.Newton said it’s just a matter of learning to take what the defense gives him.One of the biggest keys, he said, is trusting teammates around him to do their jobs 鈥?the offensive line giving him time to work through his progressions and receivers making plays with the ball in their hands.That happened against Atlanta when Newton found D.J. Moore 鈥?his second option 鈥?with a pass over the middle that the speedy rookie wide receiver caught and turned into a 51-yard touchdown.“Wherever the read takes (me) I have to get the ball out of my hands and allow those guys to” make plays, said Newton https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mike-Adams-Jersey , whose completion percentage ranks 15th in the league.“That has been a bigger part of what they doing, no doubt,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said of the check downs.McCaffrey was drafted last year with the purpose of giving Newton an option when things begin to break down, instead of having to tuck and run as often.The running back from Stanford set a franchise rookie record with 80 receptions. This year, he’s on pace to double that output.McCaffrey is unlikely to get to 160 receptions because at some point teams are going to adjust and take him away. But the Panthers are counting on that, figuring it will open things up downfield for other receivers.“Eventually teams will have to start to play that,” McCaffrey said, “and that’s when it all opens up.”While Newton’s intended target may change as the season unfolds, Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith said Newton has a good chance of maintaining that 69 percent completion rate 鈥?or even improving on it.“Cam has been working his tail off and he has been making great decisions,” Smith said.Newton said he couldn’t care less about his completion percentage, as long as the team wins.___ The Panthers have reinstated interim general manager Marty Hurney after an NFL investigation found no wrongdoing into charges of harassment by his ex-wife.Hurney had been on a paid leave of absence during the investigation.He is one of four candidates who have interviewed for the team’s permanent general manager position, which is expected to be filled soon.Article continues below ...The NFL said in a statement Friday that its ”investigation identified no evidence to support an allegation of domestic violence or similar conduct that would constitute a violation of the personal conduct policy.”The league said it requested to talk to his ex-wife Jeannie Hurney, but that she declined.Marty Hurney said in a statement through his attorney that he’s ”grateful” to be headed back to work after what he called ”false claims” by his ex-wife.His attorney, Kathleen Lucchesi https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Matt-Kalil-Jersey , told The Associated Press in an email Friday Hurney was headed back to work immediately to begin preparations for the NFL draft and free agency.Hurney’s interim contract is set to expire June 30.”It’s been a very long two weeks for Marty and his family,” Lucchesi said in a statement emailed to AP. ”In this digital age, it’s nearly impossible to overcome suspicion, defend yourself, and clear your name once the court of public opinion gets a hold of a false narrative. The public scrutiny can be devastating and unrelenting. In this case, it was also unnecessary.”Words cannot express how thankful Marty is for the love and unwavering support of his family. He is grateful to the NFL for conducting a thorough investigation. He is also grateful for the continued confidence and support of the Panthers organization. Marty is looking forward to getting back to the work of building a strong and successful Panthers team for the 2018 season.”The NFL said its investigation included a review of available law enforcement and court records, sworn testimony in prior proceedings, and interviews of multiple people including Hurney.The Panthers placed Hurney on paid administrative leave on Feb. 4 when the NFL began an investigation into whether Hurney violated the league’s personal conduct policy after Jeannie Hurney unsuccessfully requested a temporary restraining order alleging her ex-husband harassed her.Hurney remarried in 2016 and has a 14-month old child at home.At that time Lucchesi told AP in an email that Hurney was ”very upset” by the allegations ”first, because they are not true, and second, because she made them at a time she and the rest of Charlotte knew Marty was interviewing for the GM job with the Panthers.”The Panthers brought Hurney back to be their interim general manager last July after then-owner Jerry Richardson fired Dave Gettleman days before the start of training camp to provide some stability in the organization.Hurney was the Panthers GM from 1998 through 2012 and is credited for building the core of a team that reached the Super Bowl two seasons ago.Along with Hurney, the Panthers have also interviewed Bills assistant college scouting director Lake Dawson, Texans assistant general manager Jimmy Raye III and 49ers senior personnel executive Martin Mayhew for its permanent GM position.—