Staying focused on the now

“Everybody expects him to come in and save the day, which he is trying to do,” Anderson said. “But it’s not all just about him.”

And Newton keeps trying to remind people of that, not that he’s trying to dodge the blame — he gets that he’s not playing terribly well at the moment.

“We’ve got to play complementary football,” Newton said. “That’s not pointing fingers, that’s pointing thumbs.”

But he also keeps trying to steer the focus off himself and onto the larger goals. So while there are plenty of people talking about Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers possibly being his last one here, he’s not ready to consider the historical significance.

“You keep using this word possibly. I’m not worried about possibly,” he said. “I’m just worried about the next game, which is the most important game to me because it’s the next game. that’s important because we need to win. That’s it. That’s the only thing. I’m not worried about possibly this, possibly that. I’m just focused on winning. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”

He’s also not naive enough to know that anyone will allow it to be considered that way. This is still Cam Newton.

“You can definitely see his significance and his presence and how much he means to the culture, being here,” Anderson said. “I’m happy to experience that first hand and be part of that.”

It’s one thing for his teammates to see it. Newton’s not acknowledging it, though.

“At the end of the day, we’re all trying to win,” he said. “And I don’t think I’ve made myself clear, and I do want to make myself clear. It’s like, bro, we’re in dying need of a win. For the community, for the organization, for just the overall swagger and brashness of that locker room.

“At the end of the day, that’s what it comes down to. Whatever it’s going to take, it’s going to take. Whether it’s two-quarterback system, three-quarterback system, wildcat, wild dog, trick play. Call it up. Dial it up. I’m going to hold myself accountable to make sure I’m doing everything I’m supposed to be doing when I’m supposed to be doing it.”

And for Cam Newton, on Thursday, that meant not talking about anything past Sunday.

No matter how much it means to anyone else. And it means plenty.