Benjamin, 23, and Newton, 25, often refer to one another as big brother or littlebrother. They’ve been seemingly inseparable since the Panthers drafted Benjamin 28th overall out of Florida State.
fferent accounts.”
The two hit it off almostimmediately. Newton, because of offseason ankle surgery in March, couldn’t work on throwing passesto Benjamin, so they workedon being friends.
Newton andBenjamin spentpart of a late-spring weekend on a boat on a Georgia lake. In the summerthey were photographedpushing a broken-down car outsideof a restaurantin Atlanta. Benjamin accompanied Newton to the Under Armourfacilitiesin Baltimore, where the two trained togetherfora week thissummer.
It’s been a stark contrast fromNewton’s early years. He worked out in the weightroom by himself occasionally in hisfirst two years.