Cam Newton and Panthers owner David Tepper do not appear to be on the same page. During Super Bowl week, Newton told CBS Sports that he’d “absolutely” be back in Carolina in 2020.
The owner of the team isn’t so sure about that.
“Listen, I’m not a doctor,” Tepper said, via ESPN.com. “I said it a million times, is he healthy? He’s not a doctor, so there’s a lot of different things can happen.”
But, first, is he healthy? Tell me that and then we can talk.”
It’s a valid question to ask. Newton’s last two seasons have been cut short due to injury. In 2018, it was a long-standing shoulder injury that put him out. Last season, it was a left foot injury. The team could save $19.1 million by trading or cutting Newton, and it’s unlikely that the quarterback will want to play this upcoming season with no guarantees for the future. So it looks Carolina really only has two options: Part ways with the best QB in the franchise’s history or go all-in on him with a contract extension.
Tom Brady is undoubtedly the biggest domino this offseason. His decision will shape the rest of the free agency market for quarterbacks, which is uncharacteristically robust. But Newton might be second on that list. While his injury history may turn off some teams, these last two ailments are hardly relatedly, and, based on the limited film we got from Cam, he seems to be over the shoulder issue. He can still put some zip on the football…
The foot is a big concern, as mobility is one of his selling points, but the Lisfranc surgery he had in December carried only a six- to eight-week recovery period, according to famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Based on that timeline, Newton should be ready to go for offseason workouts.
Considering all that, there had to have been some motivation for Tepper to make those comments. And I don’t know if a scenario in which Newton is being shopped would be helped by what he had to say, which was basically, We only want him here if he’s healthy. So if the Panthers do end up shopping him, that sends a message to the rest of the NFL that Cam is not fully healthy, which would drive down his trade value.
If anything, Tepper’s comments could be a sign that Newton will stick with the Panthers for the foreseeable future. That soundbite could very well be a negotiating ploy from a man who made a fortune in business. We’ve seen other owners — most notably Jerry Jones — take similar approaches to contract negotiations. If Newton wants to be in Carolina and doesn’t think he has any leverage, his asking price could come down.
But let’s just say Newton is shopped around or released… what landing spots would make the most sense? Here are five NFL teams that should be interested in the veteran quarterback:
1. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have everything Newton would want in a new team: A great offensive line, a smart coaching staff and a whole lot of cap space to throw around. The fit also makes perfect sense for Indianapolis, which is a franchise quarterback away from ascending into the upper echelon of the league. Newton may not end up fitting that bill, but the Colts have enough money to take that chance without being set back financially.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If the Bucs do move on from Jameis Winston, Newton wouldn’t be a bad replacement considering his fit in Bruce Arians’ downfield passing scheme. Philip Rivers has been linked to Tampa, but his arm has been dead for basically two years now. Newton can still push the ball downfield, at the very least. And as competitive as Newton is, it might be hard for him to turn down an opportunity to stick it to his old team twice a season.
3. New England Patriots
Hey, the Pats have to have some backup plan in place in case Brady actually leaves. Newton, who has given Bill Belichick all sorts of problems during his career, would not be a bad Plan B. Belichick has referred to Newton as the best mobile quarterback in the NFL, and Belichick knows what kind of stress those guys put on a defense. Three of New England’s four losses this season were to Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. I should also point out that Newton is undefeated against the Patriots in his career. After years of working with a stationary pocket passer, Belichick may opt for an If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em approach.
4. Chicago Bears
The Bears would be a lot higher on this list if they hadn’t already backed Mitch Trubisky as their starter. There’s also the salary cap issue. Chicago isn’t flushed with cap space and can’t get out of the Trubisky deal for another year, so if it wants another passer, the draft may be the only available avenue. But this is the NFL, and teams figure out ways to circumvent their cap issues all the time. If the Bears really want Newton, they can make it work … somehow.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
After officially moving on from Philip Rivers, the Chargers once again find themselves in the quarterback wilderness. Any team in need of a quarterback would be wise to give Newton a look, but I’m not sure if it would make sense to move on from Rivers only to take a flyer on another veteran who is coming off two injury-riddled seasons. Los Angeles will, in all likelihood, be turning to the draft to find their next signal-caller. But if the Chargers think they’re a quarterback away from competing in the AFC West in 2020 — or they just aren’t fond of this year’s class of quarterbacks — they’ll have to consider Newton as an option.
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