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Rivera: Panthers strongly considered drafting Gabbert over Newton

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Carolina Panthers' magical 2015 season, which included a run to the Super Bowl and an MVP award for quarterback Cam Newton, would never have happened if not for a tough decision in the recent past.

Speaking at the Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Classic on Monday, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera told the story of how his team almost went in a different direction with the draft's top pick in 2011.

"Remember, we had the No. 1 pick, and we were talking quarterback," Rivera recalled, according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News. "And it came down to Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. Those were the two guys we targeted and looked at, and looked at really, really hard."

The Panthers clearly made the right call in selecting Newton, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and a National Champion at the time.

Gabbert was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars 10th overall and threw 22 touchdowns and 24 interceptions over the next three seasons before getting traded to the San Francisco 49ers.

Rivera did have praise for Gabbert, who is now battling with Colin Kaepernick to start.

"I got to interview both guys (Gabbert and Kaepernick), and we really studied Blaine," Rivera said. "I can see where Blaine could really capture the (locker) room. He’s likable. He’s high energy. Big effort. Not satisfied."

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