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SPARTANBURG http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/au...preston-brown-jersey , S.C. (AP) Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted a photo of himself earlier this week on Instagram sitting at a card table with a stack of poker chips in front of him that read: ”I’m BETTING EVERYTHING on ME!”

It’s just one of several recent posts by Newton, most of which include him working out or showing off his chiseled six-pack abs.

The league’s 2015 MVP enters his eighth NFL season anxious to push the Panthers deeper into the playoffs after an 11-5 regular season ended with a first-round playoff loss to New Orleans last season.

Newton was in a jovial mood Thursday night as the team held its first training camp practice at Wofford College as new owner David Tepper looked on from the sideline. The quarterback led ”the wave” with the crowd and laughed it up with teammates during breaks in practice.

”It’s just nice to see him be Cam and have a lot of life and have a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said on check-in day on Wednesday. ”When he’s like that, he’s at his best.”

It helps that Newton doesn’t have to worry about rehabbing an injured shoulder as he did last summer.

Newton missed all of minicamp and OTAs in 2017 after rotator cuff surgery on his throwing shoulder following the 2016 season. He was back to throwing at training camp last year, but developed soreness after five practices.

Not wanting to chance any setbacks, the Panthers only allowed Newton to throw two passes in the preseason games.

Newton made it back for the start of the regular season and played in all 16 games. He struggled statistically, completing just 59.1 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, but it’s difficult to pin that on Newton or his shoulder.

Injuries to the offensive line and wide receiver position often left the former Heisman Trophy winner running from defenders after being flushed out of the pocket, desperately trying to find an open option.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney addressed the need for playmakers at the wide receiver position this offseason by trading for Torrey Smith, signing free agent Jarius Wright and drafting rookie D.J. Moore in the first round.

”I thought you saw a lot of energy out of our offense in minicamp,” Hurney said. ”You just don’t know, but you want to see it come together.”

Newton is also adapting to a new offensive scheme after the Panthers fired Mike Shula and replaced him with Norv Turner. Running back Christian McCaffrey said Turner and Newton ”have really bonded” so far this offseason.

”Cam’s been throwing it really well. He has been making great reads and I think he’s just as excited as anybody for the season,” McCaffrey said.

Coach Ron Rivera said what excites him the most about Newton is the simple fact that he’s healthy and, as Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess said, ”is ready to rock.”

That has allowed him to work through some of the intricacies of Turner’s offense during OTAs and minicamp.

”Going into this camp, I think we’re already ahead with him,” Rivera said.

Newton didn’t talk to reporters following the completion of the team’s first practice at Gibbs Stadium, instead spending time signing autographs before heading in for team meetings. But he did post ”you know I’m ready” in a recent Instagram video.

”I think that’s the understatement of the year to say that him being out there makes a big difference http://www.buccaneersauthorizedshops.com...c-ryan-jensen-jersey , right?” said Olsen, who missed more than half of the 2017 season with a foot injury.

”Just his presence on the field. Having a full OTAs and minicamp with him and then getting some work done with him this summer and just seeing how good he’s feeling and moving around and training and throwing a lot, and now being able to do a full training camp – those are all stark contrasts with where we were at this point last year. One would hope that that’s a good sign for us.”

Newton is betting on it.

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The NFL season doesn’t start for another six weeks and already job security is an issue for some coaches.

Yes, even in late July.

Every season, teams that entered with low expectations show significant improvement and make unexpected deep postseason runs. Last season, Jacksonville with coach Doug Marrone went to the AFC championship game and held a late lead at New England before Tom Brady rallied the Patriots. And, of course, the Eagles and coach Doug Pederson, despite losing Carson Wentz to a torn ACL, beat Brady and Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl.

There’s always pressure on NFL coaches to win. And win now.

Here are a few who enter the 2018 season on the hot seat:

JASON GARRETT (67-53, 1-2 in playoffs)

There’s always pressure on the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, especially with Jerry Jones as owner. The franchise that has won five Super Bowls has not advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs since the 1995 season, the last year it won the NFL title. Garrett has 67 regular-season wins since taking over in the 2010 season. He has had only one losing season as head coach. However, he has reached the postseason only twice and won one game in the playoffs.

The Cowboys were 13-3 two seasons ago and will be expected to be in playoff contention with a full season of quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. But the Super Bowl champion Eagles are in their way in the NFC East.

HUE JACKSON (9-39)

Jackson has one win – one – in two seasons in Cleveland; the other eight came as head coach of the Raiders in 2011. The Browns beat the then-San Diego Chargers in overtime in Week 16 of the 2016 season. Otherwise they’d be looking at consecutive 0-16 seasons.

The team also has to find a way to replace longtime star left tackle Joe Thomas.

The Browns hold the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 15 seasons and fans don’t really trust this process. Jackson, a highly regarded offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, is counting on top overall draft pick Baker Mayfield being the team’s longtime answer at quarterback. The challenge for Jackson and the Browns is going against the rugged defenses and Super Bowl-winning QBs in Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC North.

TODD BOWLES (22-29)

Life in the AFC East having to deal with the never-ending juggernaut in New England is almost unfair. Facing Brady and Belichick twice every season is not good for any opposing head coach’s job security.

Bowles, who received a two-year extension after the 2017 season, is coming off consecutive 5-11 records and has yet to make the playoffs entering his fourth season. Overall Eagles Elite Jerseys , the Jets have failed to reach the postseason for the past seven years.

The Jets have to decide on their starting quarterback – Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater or first-round draft pick Sam Darnold – and need to show progress in 2018.

JAY GRUDEN (28-35-1, 0-1 playoffs)

Job security in DC is always an issue. But Gruden will set the record for the longest-serving coach (65 games) since Dan Snyder took over as owner in 1999 in Week 1 of the upcoming season against Arizona.

Gruden has made the playoffs once in his first four years and lost to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the wild-card game after the 2015 season.

Gruden’s biggest challenge could be at quarterback after Kirk Cousins signed with Minnesota. The team traded for Alex Smith, and the comparisons at the position in the NFC East can be daunting: Dak Prescott, Eli Manning and Carson Wentz – not to mention Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. As with Garrett in Dallas, Gruden also has to contend with the champs in his division.

And there will be comparisons to Jay Gruden’s Super Bowl-winning brother, Jon, who has returned to coaching with the Oakland Raiders.

DIRK KOETTER (14-18)

Koetter will enter his third season in Tampa Bay without starting quarterback Jameis Winston, who will miss the first three games while suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after a league investigation of an accusation that the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner groped a female Uber driver during a ride in Arizona in March 2016.

Koetter also is in a division with two teams with recent Super Bowl appearances (Carolina, Atlanta), and getting past them and the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South, especially with Ryan Fitzpatrick making three starts for Tampa Bay, will be tough.

VANCE JOSEPH (5-11)

Only entering his second season, Joseph’s Denver debut was a dud at 5-11 – an avalanche of disappointment by Broncos standards, especially so closely removed from a Super Bowl title.

In an attempt to stabilize the QB position that’s been troublesome since Peyton Manning retired, the team signed Case Keenum, who led the Vikings to the NFC championship game last season. Joseph needs big production from Keenum and the rest of the offense to support an overworked defense.

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