Cam Newton being cut for a second straight year may produce another lengthy free agency stay. Neither the Cowboys nor Washington appear to be interested in adding the former MVP.
Following Newton’s New England exit, Ron Rivera said a reunion with the eight-plus-year Panthers starting quarterback popped up on his radar. But the second-year Washington HC was quick to indicate Ryan Fitzpatrick is his starter, via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post (on Twitter). Rivera added Washington will move forward with Fitz, Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen. Dallas followed suit, with Mike McCarthy adding the Cowboys are “pleased with the group” they have (via NFL.com’s Andrew Siciliano, on Twitter).
The Cowboys cut Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci this week but claimed former Panthers third-round pick Will Grier, who joins Cooper Rush as Dallas’ QBs behind Dak Prescott. Considering Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury and the shoulder issue that emerged early in this year’s camp, the Cowboys having a proven backup would make sense. It just does not seem like they want to add Newton.
“You know, most people in the NFL that are even in the personnel area I think have Cam Newton evaluated, and his pluses and his minus. You know, [former Cowboys OC] Norv Turner did a great job … when he was coordinator [in Carolina] with Cam Newton. So, I think he’s no secret as to what he does and does well,” Jerry Jones said, during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via Pro Football Talk), when asked if he spoke with Bill Belichick about Newton.
“And of course he was basically able to be evaluated if you want to look at it playing games and results and all of that as an evaluation. Cam Newton is not playing because everybody has evaluated it and they’re making a decision. … We were very, very easy to evaluate Cam.”
Newton, 32, lost the Patriots’ QB1 job to Mac Jones and is not only coming off a rough 2020 season but a general decline over the past several years. The 2015 MVP ranked 29th in cumulative Total QBR from 2016-19; a foot injury capped the last of those seasons at two games. The other two quarterbacks who saw time on that 2019 Carolina squad — Grier and Allen — join fellow ex-Newton teammate Heinicke in representing three-fourths of Dallas and Washington’s reserve QBs.
The Ravens have second-year UDFA Tyler Huntley as Lamar Jackson‘s lone active-roster backup, and Newton certainly would not pose a threat to Jackson’s job were the historically productive running quarterback to land with the game’s best active ball-carrying QB. But nothing has emerged on that front. It would make sense now if Newton waits for an injury to clear a path for a potential job.
Cam still thinks he’s a starter. Just about no one else around the league does. He could be in for a long wait for a job.
The man always has some kind of ‘drama’ around him and nobody wants to deal with it.
He should go the “collusion” route. It worked for that other guy who thought he was a starter when no one else around the league did.
Being known as “that other guy” always enhances ones employment opportunities…lol.
Very true. Cam has been done since the super bowl when he refused to try and recover that fumble. His lack of accuracy, me first attitude and refusal to believe he’s no longer a starter, and wanting starter money will leave him looking for a job for a long time.
Cam was never going to age well. The guys with the most longevity tend to be the guys who absorb the least hits and contact. Cam’s playstyle, Panthers gameplan, and the refs letting defenders get away with more against him due to his size, did his body zero favors.
He made the most of his unique size and athleticism in his prime in exchange for longevity, he took a beating for a QB over the years.
If Cam wants to accept a backup role, he will find a job. He’s flat out not good enough to be QB1 anymore.
Washington was out last year when Ron Rivera went with Kyle Allen instead of Cam….
If Cam wants a starting gig he had better call Good Morning Football and hope that he is on Kay Adams good side.
Cam is definitely at least as good as josh johnson or brian hoyer but it’s easier to avoid the headache and blame covid
Brian Hoyer is on the practice squad, I doubt Cam would play on the practice squad.
Cam Newton would be the perfect fit behind Lamar Jackson. Both have the run-first approach.
He has no arm strength and is a loud mouth. Who wants him around Mac Jones, if he was that great a teammate the entire league wouldn’t have passed him up. He’ll sign after week 2 or 3. After famous Jameis implodes he’ll be in NO.
Cam’s throwing shoulder is out on Cam.
How is this a rumor? Rivera announced the team formerly known as the Redskins were not interested in Cam almost a week ago.
First off, there are a lot of inaccurate comments about Cam. It used to be true that he was a loudmouth, attention seeking, and over emotional. However, it is just no longer true. Even before he went to New England, Cam had matured very much as a leader and as a person. If you don’t believe me (and why would you, I’m just some guy on the Internet), watch Carolina’s All or Nothing on Amazon. Just do it. If you still are unconvinced, at least you’ll have seen more of him to back up that conclusion.
Can as a player is no longer a high-end starter. Even though most of his coaches and reporters said that his shoulder had healed, it was obvious since his injury break that Cam lost much of his accuracy on throws he used to be able to make (out routes in particular, and intermediate window throws). E can still lead an offense, but he does not have the ability to lead a sustained passing attack anywhere near what he used to, let alone what a pocket passer could. However, he might still be able to make most throws-if he has the right opportunity. Would I start him as my first choice? No, but I may if I didn’t have someone in place.
Last year with New England was pretty messy, and Newton was part of it, but it was not all on him. Significant part of the blame rests with the receivers too, and the lack of offseason, but that offense itself was pretty jury-rigged and haphazard all together. It’s really not accurate to base all of the struggles last year at Cam’s feet alone. He did what he could with what he had, and so did McDaniels, but the talent just wasn’t there, and the gameplan relied heavily on his movement to produce.
Washington should be fine, as they already have a productive starter who is older anyway, but Dallas should reconsider. Their backups are extremely questionable, as we know, and Cam is not going to push Dak out of the starting role. He also can let go when or if Dallas acquires a real developmental backup, if they do choose. Most importantly, however, Cam is mobile. He can run most of the same playbook as Dak, and the Cowboys don’t rely as much on pinpoint pocket passing as some other teams, which is not Cam’s game as is. I’m not calling Dak inaccurate, I am just saying that they don’t do it as much. He could be a better ply-and-play fit than many backups, and obviously has more starting experience in case Dak goes down. Lastly, I do think that Super Bowl loss was a valuable experience for him that he should be able to share with a team that needs to step up its game to fulfill their lofty expectations.
Thanks coach. But no.
Ak185 you lost me at “no longer true” about Cam being a loudmouth and attention-seeking.
What’s it like to live under a rock?
Well, we get cable, which I guess you don’t. What’s the last thing he’s said that would qualify him as a loudmouth? You’re basing that opinion off things that happened years ago. Watch the All or Nothing on the Panthers from a couple of years ago. Just try it, you may change your mind.
Totally disagree. Newton cannot run most of the same playbook as Prescott, not even close. Whatever arm that CN once had, which was lacking, is long gone. Apples and grapefruit.
Cowboys cake walk through division . If Dak goes down then they can sign him
Sure, because as a QB in the NFL you can come in and get up to speed with the playbook and personnel in a few days…
“Would I start him as my first choice? No, but I may if I didn’t have someone in place.”
Tells you all you need to know about even Cam’s biggest supporter. He “may” start him and not even would if they didnt have someone in place ie you are on your practice squad QB starting and you are desperate for someone.
At best Cam would be a wildcat QB which we know how well this works nowadays and how widely it is used. With Cam’s size you think he could be a TE?
I mean, he is what he is. We all know that. All I’m saying is that all of this “Cam’s worthless” stuff pretty much all stems from personal dislike more than football analysis. It’s one thing believe Newton is a good quarterback for football reasons, it’s another to do so because of personal conclusions about his likability.
I’m not really trying to tow the line for Newton. I know it looks that way, but I guess even trying to be balanced can come off as too supportive. Like I said, I don’t believe that he’s a high end starter. But the attitude commonly displayed towards him is more fueled by personal dislike than it is football related analysis. I mean, there is a term for someone you wouldn’t start if you didn’t have a better option-that term is a backup. There are a couple of teams who will be picking a new starter soon, and could use a temporary QB now. There are others, like Dallas, who could use an experienced backup. All I am saying is that the people who are above me saying that Newton is worthless should take a step back and consider the landscape of available backups in the league right now. If you tell me that you’d rather start Wil Gier instead of Cam Newton in a backup situation, you very likely making a personal decision more than a football decision.
As a 49er I’d sign and start Cameron
Well you’re not a very knowledgeable fan in that case.
Bishop Sycamore is on the horizon for Newton. End of story. Period.
Cooper Rush over Cam? If that doesn’t tell you it’s time to retire, nothing does.
Solid career Cam, now go put your feet up and order NFL Sunday Ticket like the rest of us peasants have to. Oh, and try the taco dip.
better question is why the Cowboyd roll with Rush over anyone, Cam or otherwise.
Good question, as that Eagles trade for Minshew look even better. If Dak goes down they’ll regret their decision at back up QB.
If Mac Jones goes down early in the season, not entirely out of the question for a young QB; BB will regret cutting Cam outright after spending $200 M this off season on Free Agents and not giving Gilmore a bump in salary.
I would give Hoyer , the current back-up a look, he can run the current offense better than Cam, but would be considered my 3rd choice.
Watch him end up in Houston.
Watch Cam Newton end up with the Houston Texans.