Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters on Wednesday that quarterback Sam Darnold, who is dealing with a fracture of the scapula on his right shoulder, will miss at least four to six weeks. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Carolina is confident that Darnold will actually miss the rest of the season, which is what prompted the club to reunite with Cam Newton earlier this week.
As soon as the Panthers knew that Darnold would likely be sidelined for the remainder of the 2021 campaign, they reviewed their in-house and outside options and determined that Newton was the best choice. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes, Rhule then called Newton to determine the former MVP’s interest in rejoining his old team, and Newton was very excited about the prospect.
At that point, the discussions hinged on two factors, one of which was money. Newton, who is still getting paid by the Patriots, was not going to settle for the veteran minimum, which is why the two sides ultimately came together on a $6MM pact (although Newton can earn up to $10MM, it will be difficult for him to reach that maximum).
Just as important was Newton’s desire for “direct communication and accountability.” In other words, if the team has an issue with him, he wants to be told about it directly, just as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick did with him in New England. Rhule, GM Scott Fitterer, VP of football operations Steven Drummond — whose relationship with Newton helped get the deal done — and owner David Tepper promised him as much.
When initially asked about the possibility of re-signing Newton in 2022, Fitterer was noncommittal, saying, “we’re not there yet” (Twitter link via David Newton of ESPN.com). However, Schefter says that if Newton plays well for the rest of the season, he would immediately become the favorite to serve as the starting QB next year.
Rapoport, meanwhile, notes that while the team is certainly open to another contract for Newton, Carolina has by no means given up on Darnold. After all, Darnold is owed a fully-guaranteed $18.858MM for the 2022 season, and the Panthers liked what they saw from him in the first three weeks of this year. The club thinks that his shoulder ailment contributed to his poor performance over the last few weeks, and it has no intention of trying to cut ties this offseason.
If Newton plays in this afternoon’s contest against the Cardinals, he will only see a limited number of snaps. As we already knew, P.J. Walker will serve as today’s QB1. But assuming all goes well in practice over the coming days, Newton has a good chance to suit up against Washington and old friend Ron Rivera next week.
Deshaun Watson to Panthers.
Hell no.
If they believe in Darnold as much as they say they do, there’s no chance they give up 3 first round picks, some second rounders and starter-capable players, like what Houston is asking for.
Sam has been ineffective, bad record, low completion percentage, injured, ton of picks. This is who he is. 4 years and not much has changed.
To be fair, he looked much, much better with McCaffrey back there.
This is shaping up to be a convoluted mess once Darnold is healthy.
How so? I think he’s getting bench for the rest of the year.
He might not even be healthy enough to play the rest of this year. The problem comes in the offseason, if Cam does well.
He literally just got there and hasn’t even started a game.
Carolina must think they still have a shot at the overall #1 pick. No better way to rebuild then let Cam earn you the best picks in the draft.
I think Detroit or Miami would disagree.
Panthers let go of Cam Newton before 2020 because he was finished. Would be so ridiculous to sign him beyond this season. He can barley throw the ball anymore.
Some of his throws as a Patriot were like watching someone skip stones across a lake.
Love it! Cam Nuttin says this week that his return to Carolina is “Not about me”. He scores and TD on the ground, removes his helmet, walks to the camera yelling: “I’m back!” Yes…..absolutely not about him. His ego helped emplod the Superbowl team in Carolina as he pouted in front of the Nation, been a failed player at each team since. He sure isn’t the answer and it shows you how desperate the league has become.
How does someone develop such a hatred for specific players like you have here with Cam?Did he personally do something to you? Get over it, dude. ‘His ego helped emplod [sic] the Superbowl team’? They were only a Super Bowl team because of him playing at an MVP level!
The real thing that emploded the Super Bowl team was Cam hurting his shoulder the year after the Super Bowl and getting surgery after the 2016 season. He hasn’t been the same since. But don’t let facts get in the way of some good old fashioned irrational hatred.
so you cant talk about yourself while also being a team player? um, okay then.
Sam Darnold looked good early. Hope he can get that back. He certainly flashes potential.