Cam Newton was released from the hospital today after the scary car crash that he was involved in yesterday afternoon. Newton was involved in a two-car accident near Panthers stadium in Charlotte that saw Newton's truck overturn on the highway.

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According to media reports, Newton will not be charged in the accident. He was reportedly driving at the posted speed limit when another driver pulled out in front of him, leading to the collision. No citations were issued for either driver.

Newton was seen smiling at the scene of the accident, although he was in pain. He was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital. After test results came back, it was revealed that the Panthers star has two fractures in his back. The fractures were to the transverse processes, which is the same injury that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo suffered early in the season.

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No timetable has been given for how long Newton will be out of action, but it seems likely that he will miss at least this weekend's game against Tampa Bay. Romo missed one game with his injury.

The Panthers may decide to shut Newton down for the remainder of the season if they feel that they would be further jeopardizing his health by playing him. The Panthers are currently 4-8-1 and sit just a half game out of the lead in the NFC South. However, nearly every expert agrees that the eventual NFC South champion will just be fodder for a 10-win wild card opponent in the playoffs.

If the Panthers agree, it may be in their best interst to put Cam on IR, even at the expense of winning the division. The Panthers have taken a huge step back this year after making the playoffs last season, and one of the many reason for that is that Newton has not looked healthy all season. Newton underwent offseason ankle surgery and was dealing with a rib injury for much of the early part of the year.

Fans surely do not want the team to give up on the season, but it could be in the team's best interst in the long run.