New Panthers OC Mike Shula believes emotional "balance" is critical to Cam Newton taking a significant step forward in his third NFL season.
Newton has been oft-criticized for pouting on the sidelines after things go wrong, including by teammate Steve Smith. "The more you can continue to stay on an even plane and lead the group of guys around you," said Shula, "the more effective you are going to be as a quarterback." Shula also stressed he wants better ball control on offense. "The number one thing is make first downs and keep the ball," said the rookie playcaller. "We want him to make quick decisions -- and the right decisions -- and get the ball out."

Cam Newton said he's challenging himself to lose weight this offseason.
Newton is always going to be one of the bigger quarterbacks in the league. He's listed at 6'5/245, a major reason he's never missed a game despite rushing 253 times over the last two years. Newton said he wants "to become not a stronger player, but a smarter player" this season. Newton struggled through an ugly sophomore slump for the first half of last year, but still finished as fantasy's No. 4 quarterback.

Coach Ron Rivera expects the zone read to be "more of a wrinkle than a staple" in the Panthers' 2013 offense.
"We have it as a mixer," Rivera said Thursday. "We have it just enough that coordinators have to pay attention to what we do. I think off of it, we can do so many different things." Both Rivera and new GM Dave Gettleman believe Cam Newton was far more effective last season after the Panthers de-emphasized the read option and went with a more traditional approach. "I think a read option is an option," Gettleman said. "But at the end of the day your quarterback has to make plays from the pocket. And if he can't, you're going to struggle."

Coach Ron Rivera told PFT Live that Cam Newton's first-half struggles in 2012 occurred because the Panthers "put too much on his plate."
"I think we put too much on him," said Rivera. "(In the second half) we backed off of that. Took a little bit off his plate. Put a little more on the playmakers. Put the ball in the running backs' hands. Put the ball in the tight end's hands. Put the ball in the receivers' hands, and all of a sudden you started to see (Cam) grow and develop." New coordinator Mike Shula -- Carolina's quarterbacks coach last year -- is credited with helping to "simplify" the offense for Newton.

The Charlotte Business Journal reports the Panthers have reached a deal to remain in North Carolina for the next 15 years.
The Panthers had been bandied about as a candidate to move to Los Angeles as they sought taxpayer money to help fund upgrades to Bank of America Stadium, but will be staying in the Carolinas through at least 2028. Per reporter Erik Spanberg, the city of Charlotte is putting $143.75 million toward the upgrades compared to $96.25 million from Panthers and $62.5 million from the state of North Carolina.

Cam Newton said on Friday that he is "excited" to work with new OC Mike Shula.
Newton said the continuity was important, and he went as far to credit Shula, then QBs coach, for his development over the second half of 2012. "I've been talking to [Shula] and he's been giving me some ideas to think about. I think it's going to be a working process, but at the same time we're going to have fun and take it to higher heights," Newton said. "I think a lot of credit goes to him with me honing in to a lot of things that he's been coaching me up to do."

Panthers coach Ron Rivera acknowledged that he stayed in-house to promote Mike Shula to offensive coordinator in order to maintain continuity for Cam Newton's sake.
"That was it," Rivera said. "... The bottom line is familiarity with who we are as a football team." Over Carolina's final six games, Newton combined for 14 touchdowns and only two turnovers, and the Panthers went 5-1. "I think the way Cam played the second half of the season, protecting the football the way he did and not giving up big sacks, just the way he played, his growth ..." Rivera said. "He really had to go through the maturation process."

Ex-NFL player Ross Tucker stated on Friday's Football Today podcast that he heard from "several people" that Cam Newton was a "different guy" when he reported to Panthers training camp in 2012.
Tucker credits outgoing OC Rob Chudzinski with turning Newton around after his work ethic and commitment were spotty at the beginning of the season. "I think he did a fantastic job with Cam Newton last year, and even helping him recover this year," Tucker said of Chudzinski. "I had heard, even in training camp, that Cam Newton was a different guy from a work ethic standpoint. I don't think that the slow start, I'm not putting that on Chud based on what I've heard from several people." For seven years now, Tucker said he's been told "unprompted" by coaches around the league that Chudzinski is an outstanding teacher. If Tucker is right, Chud's departure to Cleveland may be concerning for Newton in 2013.

X-rays on Cam Newton's ribs and ankle showed no fractures.