Cam Newton: Stop Mentioning The P-Word As It Pertains To Panthers

Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? The Carolina Panthers are just trying to win a game.

Granted, quarterback Cam Newton's speech on the playoffs wasn't quite as passionate as that of legendary former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora back in 2001 (see video below ). But Newton made it clear he would like to not talk about anything other than the regular season for now.

“Can we please stop mentioning that word?” Newton told reporters when some brought up the P-word. “I’m trying to get a win. Hell. I’m 0-2. All right?"

Newton speaks the truth about his record since returning to Carolina. Even without him, the Panthers weren't that great. They're 5-7 entering Sunday's game vs. the Atlanta Falcons and have lost three out of four overall.

Newton returned after being waived by the New England Patriots before the season -- then waiting for someone else to give him a chance. He got it, and while he's been solid, these are hardly the things of which playoff dreams are made.

"The important thing for me is, yeah, we know what the grand scheme of things is, but the reality is, like, I’m 0-2," he said. "This ain’t no Cinderella , like I’m here to win football games. ... I’m here to win.

"And when we win, everybody else gets promotions. And when you don’t, a lot of people are gonna get cut along the way. So that’s just the harsh reality of the league that we play in.”

One of the guys to get cut already was former offensive coordinator Joe Brady, fired by coach Matt Rhule and the Panthers earlier in the week. Newton implied he's not blameless in that decision.

“Do I think I had something to do with it?” Newton said. “The competitor in me, absolutely. Yes. Because the truth of the matter is you don’t lose your job because of success. But where I’m at now is doing what I can control to make sure I have a job, too. Let’s just be honest.”

A Mora-like proclamation booming from the media room? Not really. But no matter how you say it, Newton is right. The Panthers just need a victory, man. The playoffs, at this point, are a pipedream.

“My focus right now is focusing on what I can control, and that’s just being prepared to go versus the Atlanta Falcons,” Newton said.