He was without question the leader of the 2015 team that went 15-1 during the regular season and reached the Super Bowl. Leadership: Newton has come a long way in terms of leadership from early in his career when he sulked on the sideline with a towel over his head. Even though he had a career-threatening leg injury in 2016, he has taken far fewer hits than Newton and went 5-0 as the starter last season while New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees rehabbed a hand injury. Those numbers will help the Panthers sign free agents in the next few seasons that can help build a team that can be a playoff contender.Īnd Bridgewater is 27. Those numbers in part allowed Carolina to make Christian McCaffrey the highest-paid back in the NFL with a four-year, $64 million extension. The Panthers cleared $19.1 million from the cap this year by releasing Newton and put themselves in better shape financially to rebuild for the future without being weighed down by an expensive, long-term deal at quarterback.īridgewater counts only $14 million against this year’s cap and $23 million and $26 million, respectively, in the next two years. If he had a decent 2020 season for Carolina, he would have demanded a salary of $30 million-plus moving forward. He has missed 16 games the past two seasons due to injuries that have required three surgeries. He has taken far more hits than any quarterback in the NFL since 2011 because of his propensity to run. “Teddy for us is exactly what we want," Rhule said last week when asked about analysts questioning Bridgewater’s ability to throw the deep ball.Įconomics: The Panthers are in rebuilding mode after consecutive losing seasons, 7-9 and 5-11. Remember, Brady worked with Bridgewater in 2018 with the Saints before helping LSU win last season’s national title. So on March 24, the day before Bridgewater’s signing became official, Newton was released.Īs first-year coach Matt Rhule said in April, the release had more to do with Bridgewater being a better fit for offensive coordinator Joe Brady than it did a lack of respect for Newton. Once Bridgewater agreed to a three-year, $63 million deal, there was no reason to keep Newton and two quarterbacks for a combined $35.2 million. It might have hurt Newton’s ability to avoid 96 days of unemployment, but it was the right move for the team. That’s why they kept him on the roster as long as they did after finding no takers for a trade. Had that not happened, they still had Newton for the final year of his six-year deal at $21.2 million, which was relatively low compared to other established NFL starting quarterbacks. Teddy Bridgewater: Signing the former New Orleans backup was a priority for the Panthers in free agency. It doesn’t mean ending its nine-year relationship with the first pick of the 2011 draft was the wrong call for Carolina - even if Newton is 100% healthy after foot and shoulder injuries sidelined him for much of the past two seasons. It is, as ESPN colleague Mike Reiss wrote, a no-lose situation for New England. The Patriots are in it at a bargain-basement price of a reported $7.5 million, a ridiculously low figure for a player of Newton’s talent and accomplishments. They are in it because the Panthers in March moved on from Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, and moved forward with Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback. Some pundits are putting the Patriots back in the championship picture, a prospect that seemed bleak after Tom Brady signed with Tampa Bay. Isaiah Thomas also chimed in: “Happy for let them continue to doubt GREATNESS!" Newton is arguably the most iconic and popular athlete in the history of Charlotte sports, so him moving on is hard for some swallow. One went so far as to suggest on social media he would press charges against everyone in Carolina’s front office if Cam Newton wins a Super Bowl this season.įormer Carolina tight end Greg Olsen didn't help when he tweeted his belief that the Patriots made a great deal. – “Superman" is headed to the New England Patriots, and many of the Carolina Panthers faithful feel like they’re stuck with Clark Kent. Why Cam Newton fits better with Patriots than current PanthersĬHARLOTTE, N.C. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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