Post by Funkytown on Dec 22, 2018 13:55:50 GMT -6
ESPN: Replacing Cam Newton only a small part of Taylor Heinicke's NFL journey
Link: www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/31564/replacing-cam-newton-only-a-small-part-of-taylor-heinickes-nfl-journey
Heinicke's face swelled with emotion on Thursday as he recalled how his father, Brett, his "best friend," died of cardiac arrest when Heinicke was an 18-year-old just finishing up his freshman season at Old Dominion.
"He was in his favorite chair, a recliner, at home," Heinicke told ESPN.com after his formal news conference. "It was his happy place. He was dealing with sleep apnea. He died in his sleep. I guess it was his time to go."
The sore shoulder of 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton is the reason Heinicke is getting this opportunity.
Brett Heinicke is the reason Taylor Heinicke is in the NFL.
The elder Heinicke made a highlight video of his son's high school career and sent it to approximately 250 colleges. Old Dominion quarterbacks coach Ron Whitcomb had the video forwarded to him in what he called a "random email."
"I watched it one time and thought he was a phenomenal football player," Whitcomb said. "I brought it down to our offensive coordinator and head coach and said I wanted to offer him.
Heinicke threw for 14,959 yards and 132 touchdowns at Old Dominion, but because he didn't play for a football powerhouse and was considered undersized at 6 feet and 205 pounds, his journey to this point was filled with roadblocks.
He wasn't invited to the NFL scouting combine and was signed in 2015 as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, which is where he met Norv and Scott Turner, now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Panthers.
He was placed on injured reserve before his second season, the year Teddy Bridgewater suffered a horrific ACL tear in training camp, because he tore a tendon in his foot trying to kick in a door at a friend's apartment because his friend forgot his keys.
He was released by the Vikings in the 2017 season, starting a path that took him to New England, Houston and unemployment. The Patriots actually released Heinicke the day his furniture was delivered to his new apartment.
The Panthers claimed Heinicke off waivers in April because Norv Turner wanted a quarterback familiar with his system to help teach it to Newton and the other candidates.
Heinicke survived all the cuts and over the past month has been getting most of the first-team snaps in practice while Newton rested his arm.
On Tuesday, the day after the Panthers were all but eliminated from playoff contention with a 12-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and with only five career passes in a regular-season game, Heinicke got the news he would start.
His first call was to his mother. One of the next calls was to Whitcomb.
"This summer was the most focused I've seen him in the entire time I've known him," Whitcomb said. "He was very, very determined to establish himself in the NFL. I think the first three years in the NFL he was happy to be there. I think now he knows he belongs."
Heinicke is thankful for this opportunity, but he's not out to prove all those who doubted him wrong.
"I'd rather put in a way of proving the people that believed in me right," he said. "That's the only people I care about. I just want to go out there and perform. Shoot, let's get a win. We've lost six straight. If we get a win, that would be huge."
"He was in his favorite chair, a recliner, at home," Heinicke told ESPN.com after his formal news conference. "It was his happy place. He was dealing with sleep apnea. He died in his sleep. I guess it was his time to go."
The sore shoulder of 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton is the reason Heinicke is getting this opportunity.
Brett Heinicke is the reason Taylor Heinicke is in the NFL.
The elder Heinicke made a highlight video of his son's high school career and sent it to approximately 250 colleges. Old Dominion quarterbacks coach Ron Whitcomb had the video forwarded to him in what he called a "random email."
"I watched it one time and thought he was a phenomenal football player," Whitcomb said. "I brought it down to our offensive coordinator and head coach and said I wanted to offer him.
Heinicke threw for 14,959 yards and 132 touchdowns at Old Dominion, but because he didn't play for a football powerhouse and was considered undersized at 6 feet and 205 pounds, his journey to this point was filled with roadblocks.
He wasn't invited to the NFL scouting combine and was signed in 2015 as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings, which is where he met Norv and Scott Turner, now the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Panthers.
He was placed on injured reserve before his second season, the year Teddy Bridgewater suffered a horrific ACL tear in training camp, because he tore a tendon in his foot trying to kick in a door at a friend's apartment because his friend forgot his keys.
He was released by the Vikings in the 2017 season, starting a path that took him to New England, Houston and unemployment. The Patriots actually released Heinicke the day his furniture was delivered to his new apartment.
The Panthers claimed Heinicke off waivers in April because Norv Turner wanted a quarterback familiar with his system to help teach it to Newton and the other candidates.
Heinicke survived all the cuts and over the past month has been getting most of the first-team snaps in practice while Newton rested his arm.
On Tuesday, the day after the Panthers were all but eliminated from playoff contention with a 12-9 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and with only five career passes in a regular-season game, Heinicke got the news he would start.
His first call was to his mother. One of the next calls was to Whitcomb.
"This summer was the most focused I've seen him in the entire time I've known him," Whitcomb said. "He was very, very determined to establish himself in the NFL. I think the first three years in the NFL he was happy to be there. I think now he knows he belongs."
Heinicke is thankful for this opportunity, but he's not out to prove all those who doubted him wrong.
"I'd rather put in a way of proving the people that believed in me right," he said. "That's the only people I care about. I just want to go out there and perform. Shoot, let's get a win. We've lost six straight. If we get a win, that would be huge."
Link: www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/31564/replacing-cam-newton-only-a-small-part-of-taylor-heinickes-nfl-journey