National Football League

Newton says he is big Tebow fan

Published Aug. 24, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

While Cam Newton says he's a big Tim Tebow fan, he downplays the reunion on Sunday night with his former college teammate.

Newton says his focus this week isn't on old friendships but rather keeping the offense looking sharp when the Panthers visit the New York Jets in what'll certainly be his last significant playing time of the preseason.

Newton says he ''learned a lot'' from Tebow during his two seasons at Florida, but the high-profile NFL quarterbacks haven't kept in contact since Newton left the program in 2009. Newton was a redshirt freshman in 2008 when Tebow led Florida to its second national championship in three seasons.

Newton transferred to Blinn College while Tebow finished his college career with the Gators.