Panthers QB Cam Newton unlikely to attend MVP announcement

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will undoubtedly be named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player next Saturday at the NFL Honors ceremony.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera could win his second Coach of the Year award in three years.

It’s unlikely either one of them will be in attendance.

The Panthers will be at the San Jose Marriott, which is nearly 50 miles south of where the ceremony will be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.

On Feb. 7, the Panthers face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. EST.

Rivera wants to keep the week’s schedule as similar to a regular week as possible. That means off days on Tuesday and Saturday with the ability for players to get treatment.

“They’ll have some opportunities but for the most part where we are located, it’s going to make it tough,” Rivera said. “Being all the way in San Jose and San Francisco being up the road, it is a little bit of a hassle.”

Rivera said he assumed they wouldn’t be able to make the event but wasn’t sure. The ceremony will tape between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific time and air on NFL Network at 9 p.m. Eastern.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Panthers QB Cam Newton unlikely to attend MVP announcement."