Cam Newton says he still hasn't peaked as player

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton wrapped the Carolina Panthers' offseason workouts on Thursday by saying he still hasn't peaked as a player.

Newton also said the defending NFC champions will enter the 2016 season "playing with a chip on our shoulders.''

This was the first time Newton spoke to reporters at Carolina's facility since two days after a 24-10 loss to Denver in Super Bowl 50. He spent that day defending his decision to walk out on his postgame news conference, admitting he was a "sore loser.''

But that game and Super Bowl 51 were the last things Newton wanted to discuss as Carolina began a break before reporting to training camp on July 27 at Wofford College in Spartanburg.

"We're not worried about the Super Bowl,'' Newton said. "We're focusing in on trying to maximizing our June to July, into August and the list goes on. The Super Bowl is in 2017. We still have a lot to do in 2016.''

Carolina coach Ron Rivera challenged his quarterback to improve on his MVP season prior to the start of offseason workouts. He liked what he saw the past four weeks, particularly this week during a mandatory three-day minicamp.

"Not just about playing, but the mental aspect of what he was doing out there and the things he was saying and had talked about and communicated,'' Rivera said. "Like I said when we first got started, I still believe he's got room to grow.

"It's not just about his base fundamentals as an athlete, but his based fundamentals as a mental athlete, understanding the mental aspects of the game.''

Rivera said he's seen Newton grow "across the board'' since the Super Bowl.

"In every facet, to being a quality young man in society to being a great football player on the field,'' he said. "You just see it. You see him work hard. And he does things his way.

"That's one of the things we as a football team know and appreciate is who he is. It really is about being yourself and true to yourself.''

Newton wouldn't go into specifics about what he needed to improve on to take Carolina to the next level, saying only there is a long list.

"I haven't peaked, I haven't climaxed as a player,'' he said. "That's what I need to get better at. I always can find ways to take my game to the next level and just getting everybody on the same page.

"As one of the captains on this team, I take that very pridefully, knowing that there's a lot of people looking at me ... to lead this team.''

Newton threw a career-high 35 touchdown passes this past season and ran for 10 more. General manager Dave Gettleman, recalling when he was hired in January of 2013, said Newton has come the furthest as a pocket quarterback.

"I told you guys that every NFL quarterback, in order to win big games, has got to be able to make plays from the pocket,'' Gettleman said of his 2013 comments on Newton. "So [the media] took that statement and ran with it and said, 'Oh, Gettleman doesn't like Newton. It's not his guy. He's going to run him out of here.'

"That's not what I said. When have you seen a Super Bowl winning quarterback not make plays from the pocket for the entire year? That's what he's doing now.''

Newton had a busy offseason filming his Nickelodeon television series. He plans to spend the next month "getting better.''

He's already looking for ways to get with players to work on their own as he has in the past with the wide receivers. He can't wait to have wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin back full time after the 2014 first-round pick missed last season with a knee injury.

Newton said Benjamin, who led Carolina wide receivers with 73 catches for 1,008 yards and 9 touchdowns as a rookie, is coming back with a vengeance.

Benjamin was limited to individual drills during OTAs, but will begin training camp as a full participant.

"It's a big deal for us,'' Newton said. "Just to see him out there, it gives everybody confidence, just knowing the optimism of what's soon to come. Benji's moving as good as I've ever seen him.''

Newton plans to come back with a vengeance, as well. He's not focused on the Sept. 8 rematch against Denver as much as he is improving.

"There's still some things we've got to do to better ourselves,'' he said. "We know that game is going to come, but we have to make sure we're prepared to go on all cylinders.''