When healthy, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is an amazing player. But the fact that is one of many asterisks surrounding the former MVP’s future is an issue.
And Newton is hardly the answer for the wealth of problems barraging the Cincinnati Bengals.
Newton and the Bengals is largely a discussion during this quieter portion of the NFL schedule thanks to a column by Jason La Canfora, who suggests trading multiple picks for Newton and trading away the No. 1 overall pick is the answer to Cincinnati’s problems:
“If ever there was a time to hoard picks and get creative, it’s now. And if Brown is worried about looking like he’s tanking and losing his fanbase or any other such phobias, acquiring Newton would put that to bed. Regardless, it’s time for the Bengals to be aggressive and proactive and get with the times. Even after being conscientious objectors at the trade deadline, that is precisely the avenue or roster building they should be championing now. The combine is right around the corner. Time to get moving, including – if a stare-down with Burrow is possibly looming – that first-overall pick.”
Unfortunately, that plan reads more like a Madden simulation than realistic.
It wouldn’t be “getting with the times” to swap one expiring quarterback for another. Trading Andy Dalton is ideal — especially after the botched benching at the trade deadline in which even the lead-by-example Dalton was peeved. But it’s going to be hard to move him in a free-agent class with Philip Rivers, Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and oh, maybe Tom Brady.
Swapping Dalton’s expiring for Newton’s doesn’t make much sense. Newton will be 31 over the offseason and hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2017. Coughing up multiple draft assets for Newton puts the franchise all-in on the idea his shoulder injury isn’t that bad and he can somehow rediscover his past MVP form. If that’s the move, why not keep the assets and hope Dalton can rediscover his 2015 form?
Even worse is the idea the Bengals should cough up assets for Newton, then trade away the shot at Joe Burrow. Because that’s the crux of the idea here — the baseless speculation Burrow doesn’t want to be a member of the Bengals.
Teams that clutch the No. 1 pick hear baseless chatter about the potential No. 1 pick not wanting to play there every year. But it’s especially funny this year when Burrow is a local kid with relatives in the area and even his own father has already made it clear he’d like to play for the Bengals.
And the Bengals have droves of problems besides quarterback. Attendance and a waning fanbase that isn’t grabbing the attention of the next generation while another team in the city — the Cincinnati Reds — makes big splash after big splash paints a dire outlook for the Bengals.
What better addresses the fan problem? Bringing on Newton or taking the local kid? Propose that question in a poll to Bengals faithful and it might be the most lopsided poll ever.
Never mind that trading out and crossing the fingers that next year’s quarterbacks will be good too is fool’s fodder that keeps franchises stuck in purgatory permanently. Too much can change. Think Justin Herbert’s recent stock nosedive or Tua Tagovailoa’s injury.
Waiting on a Trevor Lawrence instead of taking a Joe Burrow is nightmare fuel. Gambling away a historic collegiate passer, Heisman winner, national champion and local kid for the chance at something better is frankly laughable.
Cam Newton is a great player. He could ascend to MVP levels again. He’d also be a much better fit elsewhere. Because simply put, no organization boasts the unique problems facing the Bengals.
Newton the idea is fun. Were the Bengals not lucky enough to be in a position to draft an all-timer of a prospect at quarterback, fine. But fixing the Bengals means sticking to their usual draft guns and being willing to move more aggressively on other fronts like free agency, not throwing away a shot at the best quarterback prospect since perhaps Andrew Luck.
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