What Matt Rhule said about the Panthers bringing back Cam Newton
It turns out the Panthers exploring any and all options at quarterback included reaching out to Cam Newton. The longtime Panthers quarterback who Rhule and team owner David Tepper parted ways with during the 2020 offseason signed with Carolina on Thursday. Newton’s return signals an agreement between both parties to focus on the Panthers (4-5) making a playoff push.
“We have a team that we feel like can win. We have the second-ranked defense. Christian is back and things are hopefully coming into place,” Rhule said. “We owe it to our players to try and go win. We owe it to our fans to try and go win. We are bringing in Cam, he’s a former MVP, so to have a guy like that come in it was a no-brainer.”
The deal came together quickly. Rhule said he called Newton on Tuesday evening asking him if he would be interested in returning to Carolina. Newton “emphatically” responded yes. Newton arrived in Charlotte Thursday morning. Shortly after, he agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million, including $4.5 million guaranteed and $1.5 million roster bonus. That bonus is predicated on him being active, meaning he’ll earn his game check plus $187,500 per contest.
Rhule reflected on his decision to cut Newton and called it a “football decision.” Since then, Newton has proven healthy. Rhule said watching his New England game tape helped solidify bringing Newton back.
“At the time, we weren’t sure if he’s healthy, but he’s healthy now,” Rhule said. “He said to me, probably just not playing yet this season, he’s as healthy as he possibly could be. A healthy Cam Newton is a special player.”
With his health in check and full belief in his abilities, the Panthers made a move to best position themselves to make a postseason run.
“I think our team can win now,” Rhule said. “We have a good defense but haven’t been playing at the level we want on offense. We are still 2-0 in the NFC South whether people want to write us off or not.”
Newton, 32, was a free agent after the Patriots cut him in August and has been looking for an ideal situation ever since. The Panthers’ roster only has two active quarterbacks following a shoulder injury to Sam Darnold that will likely land him on injured reserve. Rhule repeatedly endorsed backup P.J. Walker, who will start against the Cardinals. But signing Newton likely relegates Walker to exactly that after this week.
“We lost our starting quarterback and we need a starting quarterback and PJ’s in that role right now. That doesn’t mean he’ll lose that role. We need as many good players as possible,” Rhule said. “P.J.’s job is just to go be the quarterback. I can’t do hypotheticals.
“Obviously, we brought Cam here because of who he is at quarterback and we brought him here to play.”
Rhule would not rule Newton out of playing against Arizona. He emphasized that Newton is a veteran capable of swiftly getting up to speed, though he called it unlikely. There is no doubt Newton will eventually start, probably as soon as Week 11 when the Panthers host Washington. A fitting homecoming for Newton who would play against his former coach Ron Rivera.
By signing Newton, the Panthers prioritized short-term success over long-term ramifications. The Panthers are still paying Teddy Bridgewater about $7 million, who they traded to Denver for a sixth-round selection. They are also on the hook for Darnold’s 2022 salary of $18.5 million because they picked up his fifth-year option.
A healthy Newton means Darnold likely won’t start another game in Carolina. Rhule wasn’t interested in discussing the future. This is about the present. The Panthers’ locker room again belongs to Superman.
“I talked so much about the process and building all those things that people think I’m not trying to win now,” Rhule said. “I want to build a Super Bowl team. And that requires disciplined decisions. I think this is a disciplined decision.”
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 4:26 PM.
