"It reinforced who he is to us as our offensive quarterback and our offensive leader,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys," Rivera said. "There is something good that did come from it."
He has completed 54.7 percent of his passes and thrown for 3,156 yards with 31 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the 16 games he's played since the injury, including the playoffs.
The fifth-year coach was concerned until he saw the quarterback's smile.
Hundreds of friends, former teammates and coaches reached out to Newton that night at the hospital, including Gus Malzahn, his former offensive coordinator at Auburn.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback still wears the hospital bracelet he received on Dec. 9, 2014, on his left wrist as a reminder to embrace life and all of its challenges. He even sent it off recently to have it engraved with the words "never forget your journey."
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton hasn't forgotten about the frightening automobile accident one year ago that caused his pickup truck to flip near a highway overpass. It left him hospitalized with two broken bones in his lower back and wondering how he survived.
The Panthers haven't lost a regular season game since Newton's accident, their only blemish coming in a divisional playoff loss at Seattle last January.
In the days following the accident he received texts some close to him reminding him to "never take anything for granted."
Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., then with the Arizona Cardinals, heard the news, stopped what he was doing and prayed.
Right now Newton and the Panthers are on top of the NFL world.
"Just a simple I love you, a simple appreciation to the next person, that goes a long way," Newton said.
Rivera watched the drama play out on television where cameras showed the former No. 1 overall pick on the side of the road a few feet from his mangled truck, being attended to by paramedics.
Rivera said the entire ordeal has helped galvanize the Panthers, creating a deeper appreciate for the 26-year-old quarterback and what he means to the franchise.
He's also run for nine TDs.
"I was just so glad he was OK," Malzahn said recalling the moment. "It was a very scary deal."
Newton would say in an interview this past summer he's not sure how someone didn't die in the crash — the person who hit Newton wound up with minor injuries.
"At the end of the day things worked out well," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "It helped heighten some awareness for him."
Newton's parents made the trip to Charlotte to take care of their son.
The accident certainly hasn't changed Newton's approach to the game.
They have the league's best record at 12-0,College Jerseys, have won a franchise-record 16 straight regular season games and can wrap up a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs with a win Sunday at home against the Atlanta Falcons (6-6).
"I saw those pearly whites and I thought to myself he was going to be OK," Rivera said. "... He hadn't lost his personality."
When Newton's was hit by another car a few blocks from the team's stadium sending his truck flipping across a highway overpass it sent immediate shockwaves through the organization.
The front office scrambled for information.
Newton would return after missing one game,Cheap Soccer Jerseys Free Shipping, leading Carolina to an NFC South title and a playoff win over Arizona.
Newton said he has taken that to heart.
He reminds himself of the accident so that he doesn't forget it.
"That is the one thing I would have regretted is the people that I really cared about from friend to teammates to family — I never (would have) got a good farewell,China Jerseys Cheap," Newton said. "We never know the day, the hour,Air Max 90 Black Leather, the minute that is going to be our last hoorah. So while you have an opportunity to do something, please do it."
His teammates, who had the day off, found out through Twitter and text messages, and dozens of them rushed to Carolinas Medical Center to check on Charlotte's biggest sports star.
"At that point you're worried about Cam Newton the person, not Cam Newton the player," offensive coordinator Mike Shula said.
Newton is a leading candidate to win his first Most Valuable Player award, already having thrown for a career-high 25 touchdown passes and run for seven more.
Newton said Wednesday on the