Cam expected back next week

Cam Newton could do nothing but roam the sidelines Sunday. (USATSI)

Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton said in the leadup to the regular season that there was no doubt in his mind that he would play Week 1 vs. the Buccaneers, but by the end of last week, it was clear that his cracked ribs were still bothering him.

Turns out that backup quarterback Derek Anderson scored his first NFL victory in four years as the Panthers beat Tampa Bay 20-14. But we're not likely to see Anderson start next week vs. the Lions, because after Sunday's game was complete, Carolina coach Ron Rivera said that he expects Newton to be ready for Week 2 against Detroit.

Newton, all along, has tried his best not to have to sit out Sunday's game. He said he's never missed a game in his football career -- in high school, college or the pros -- and until late last week, he seemed confident about playing.

But even when it became clear Rivera was going to sit him down vs. Tampa Bay, Newton didn't give up.

Cam tried to talk Rivera out of sitting him last night

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) September 7, 2014

Ultimately, that ploy didn't work. But it's only a temporary setback for Newton, since it seems as if Anderson will give way to Newton next week.

NFL Hot News

NFLPA will try to get suspensions issued to Browns WR Josh Gordon, Broncos WR Wes Welker overturned



The NFL and the Players Association are working together to agree on a new drug-testing policy. When an agreement comes, NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith said he wants players who are currently serving suspensions based on the old policy -- including Josh Gordon and Wes Welker -- released from their sentences."We don't want players to suffer because the union and league couldn't get it done before the league year," Smith said during a Friday radio interview.According to Pro Football Talk, the new policy would include the league's first-ever tests for human growth hormone. It would also give the league the ability to suspend players for simply being arrested, no matter if charges were filed or not.However, it would also include a couple of changes that could directly impact Gordon and Welker's cases. Under the new policy, the league's threshold for a positive marijuana test would rise. Gordon was handed at least a year-long suspension last month after testing positive for marijuana, but his results wouldn't have contained enough marijuana metabolites to trigger a positive under the new policy.Also, amphetamines would be moved from the performance-enhancing drugs policy to the league's substance abuse policy. Welker was suspended for four games earlier this week for a violation of the former after testing positive for amphetamines. But a first-time violation of the substance abuse policy does not include an automatic suspension.



Keep in mind that negotiations have been described as "fragile," and an agreement may not come before or during the season. Gordon should probably be picked up just in case a miracle comeback comes to fruition, but don't drop anyone of value for him; it's still likely Gordon will miss the entire season. Someone asked me earlier today if they should drop Hakeem Nicks for Gordon. Knowing this information, I still said "No." Again, there aren't many players I would drop for last season's leading receiver.If you did pick up Gordon today, at least there is reason to be minimally hopeful.