SPARTANBURG Dorance Armstrong Jr. Jersey , S.C. (AP) An optimistic Cam Newton says he’s adjusting well to a new offensive scheme and boldly proclaimed it’s time for the Carolina Panthers to ”take back the division.”

Wearing a ”Change the culture” t-shirt and a ”Keep Pounding” hat, an upbeat Newton was budding with enthusiasm on Saturday even after starting right tackle Daryl Williams went down with a knee injury earlier in practice.

In his first football-related interview in six months, Newton set a positive tone for training camp for a team that hopes to recapture the NFC South it won in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Carolina went 11-5 last season, but New Orleans won the head-to-head tiebreaker and took the division title.

Part of Newton’s optimism surrounds the hiring of offensive coordinator Norv Turner and the addition of wide receivers D.J. Moore, Torrey Smith and Jarius Wright.

Newton said Turner has been ”extremely easy” to work with and joked that his offense is ”Boogie approved.”

The 2015 league MVP said he likes that Turner is open to listening to suggestions about what plays may work best, even to the point to keeping the names of some of the predecessor Mike Shula’s play calls.

”I think the onus is on (Turner) more so than us to take what we have done good and expand on it, rather than just ripping the sheets of paper up and having a this-is-my-way-or-the-highway mentality,” Newton said.

Newton said it didn’t take long to realize Turner has a high football IQ.

But he added that it’s still a little too early to know exactly what to expect from the Panthers offense when the regular season arrives.

”I can’t tell you that, (but) I know that the transition as far as philosophies has almost been as easy as anyone could expect http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/john-simon-jersey ,” Newton said. ”He is super relatable and is someone who has been around this league and been around a lot of egos and lot of different players and knows how to adjust. That alone makes my job easy knowing that he is a person who you can go to and say, `This is how I feel about certain things.’ And (he’ll say), `OK, let’s find out how we can implement it.’ He’s not a guy who is so egotistical who says, `No, this play is going to work versus this.”’

Turner has already talked about wanting to improve Newton’s completion percentage.

Newton’s has completed just 58.5 percent of his career passes, but Turner would like him to be above 65 percent.

”That’s a goal of mine and it is certainly attainable,” Newton said.

Newton said that means learning to accept what the defense gives him, even if it means short dump-offs over the middle and to outlet receivers.

”That has to be my mentality,” Newton said. ”We have a lot of guys who can take two yards and turn it into 20 yards Charles Haley Jersey , or more. But it starts with me and I have to trust those guys and get the ball to them.”

The 29-year-old Newton said he’s feeling healthy heading into the season.

That’s a big difference from last season when he underwent shoulder surgery and missed all of OTAs and minicamp and a large portion of training camp undergoing rehab.

”It was very big for me making the proper steps this offseason knowing that I am full go,” Newton said. ”My body feels great and I always have to mention to TD (linebacker Thomas Davis) that I even look great. I am in a position where I am all smiles.”

Newton also addressed new owner David Tepper, teasing that ”I’m up for an upgrade” after seeing he paid $2.2 million to purchase the team from founder Jerry Richardson.

”The excitement is something we all should get prepared for knowing we have a lively owner,” Newton said.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Sam Darnold sparkled in his NFL debut, Teddy Bridgewater looked sharp and healthy, and the New York Jets earned the franchise’s first preseason home shutout by beating the sluggish Atlanta Falcons 17-0 on Friday night.

Darnold, the No. 3 overall draft pick in April, was the Jets’ third quarterback of the game, following Josh McCown and Bridgewater. The former USC star was greeted by loud cheers and a standing ovation as he jogged onto the field at MetLife Stadium with 8:41 in the first half.

Darnold’s first series ended in a punt and his non-throwing left hand was checked out by trainers on the sideline after it was stepped on — but he was fine and wore a glove in the second half.

He got the crowd on its feet again just before halftime Geron Christian Jersey , throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Charles Johnson that gave New York a 17-0 lead.

The 21-year-old Darnold showed the poise of a veteran on the drive while completing six straight passes to get to the Falcons 3. He would’ve had a seventh consecutive completion, but his throw into the end zone was dropped by Johnson. Darnold went right back to Johnson on the next play, and the receiver caught a 3-yard pass for a TD — but was called for offensive pass interference. On third-and-14, Darnold again threw to Johnson while rolling to his right and zipping in a pass to his receiver for the score.

Darnold, who finished 13 of 18 for 96 yards, missed the first three days of training camp before his representatives and the Jets agreed on details of his fully guaranteed four-year, $30.25 million deal that included a $20 million signing bonus. He quickly made up for the missed time, and is being given every opportunity to win the starting job.

RAIDERS 16, LIONS 10

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Coach Jon Gruden was a winner in his return to the sideline for Oakland when the Raiders got a touchdown pass from Connor Cook.

in a 16-10 victory over the Detroit Lions on Friday night.

Gruden was welcomed back warmly to the Coliseum for his first game here as Raiders coach since beating the Jets in a playoff game Jan. 12 Antonio Morrison Jersey , 2001. Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay after that season and has spent the past nine years as an ESPN analyst.

Raiders owner Mark Davis lured Gruden back to the sideline with a 10-year contract worth a reported $100 million following a disappointing six-win season under Jack Del Rio.

The Gruden era appeared to get off to a rousing start when Marshawn Lynch ran 60 yards for a TD on the third snap, but the score was called back on a holding penalty by rookie tackle Kolton Miller.

Oakland settled for a punt on the only drive with starting quarterback Derek Carr, but scored three times in five drives with Cook at the helm. Cook threw a 7-yard TD pass to Ryan Switzer in the second quarter and led Oakland to a pair of field goals by rookie Eddy Pineiro. Cook finished 11 for 19 for 141 yards.

The Lions also welcomed a new coach in Matt Patricia, who opted to rest star quarterback Matthew Stafford. Matt Cassel got the start and went 5 for 10 for 46 yards, leading Detroit to one score on three drives, with Ameer Abdullah capping it with a 1-yard TD run .

Lynch once again sat during the national anthem. Lynch also sat for the anthem all of last season but never gave a reason for his decision. No other players on either team demonstrated during the anthem, with the Lions all standing together with locked arms.

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