I am a Panthers fan, and I want them to win whether Cam is the QB or not. Cam is the best Panthers QB ever, and I would love for him to stay a Panther, and sign a contract so the Panthers can continue to build the team. But, is it even possible to sign Cam to the kind of money he wants/deserves, and still be able to field a competitive team? And if not, why would Cam be willing to take less to stay a Panther?
Bottom line is If Cam requires more money than the Panthers are willing to pay, than Cam will go somewhere else to finish his career. This a business decision, not a personal or emotional decision.
The worst case scenario is Cam will be the Panthers QB for 2-more years. He is under contract for 2015, and they can franchise him in 2016.