The Province

Patriots, QB Newton agree to deal

Former NFL most valuable player gets a one-year pact that’s big on incentives

- — REUTERS

The New England Patriots and free agent quarterbac­k Cam Newton have reportedly reached agreement on an incentive-laden one-year contract.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport both reported the news Sunday evening. According to Rapoport, the deal is worth up to US$7.5 million US.

“This has been in the works,” Rapoport tweeted. “A bare minimum deal.”

Newton will have the chance to compete with second-year quarterbac­k Jarrett Stidham to replace Patriots legend Tom Brady, who signed with Tampa Bay in March after 20 seasons in New England.

The Panthers released Newton, the No. 1 pick in 2011 and 2015 NFL most valuable player, in March.

It was part of an off-season overhaul that saw Carolina lose franchise linebacker Luke Kuechly to retirement; release Newton, tight end Greg Olsen and defensive tackle Dontari Poe; bring in new head coach Matt Rhule; and sign free agent quarterbac­k Teddy Bridgewate­r.

Newton, the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner out of Auburn, was entering the final year of his contract at the time of his release, carrying a salary cap figure of $21.1 million in 2020.

Newton, 31, had shoulder surgery before the 2019 season and spent that off-season overhaulin­g his nutrition and lifestyle choices.

But he suffered a foot injury in the third pre-season game in August at New England. After attempting to play through the injury, Newton was shut down for the season in September.

In 125 career games (124 starts), Newton has thrown for 29,041 yards with 182 touchdowns and 108 intercepti­ons while compiling a 68-55-1 record.

He also has 4,806 career rushing yards with 58 touchdowns.

Like Newton, Stidham finished his college career at Auburn. The Patriots selected him in fourth round in 2019 and he played in three games as a rookie last season.

He completed 2-of-4 passes for 14 yards with no touchdowns and an intercepti­on that was returned for a touchdown on his first career drive.

Brady won six Super Bowls with the Patriots, establishi­ng himself as arguably the greatest quarterbac­k of all time.

He currently sits second to Drew Brees in career passing yards (74,571) and passing touchdowns (541).

NFL Players Associatio­n executive director DeMaurice Smith took issue with NFL players who have been working out together, despite a recent recommenda­tion from the union stating that they should refrain from doing so.

During an interview with USA Today, Smith was asked about social media posts following workouts by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbac­k Tom Brady and Seattle Seahawks quarterbac­k Russell Wilson.

“Those practices are not in the best interest of player safety,” Smith told USA Today Sports in an editorial published Saturday.

“They’re not in the best interest of protecting our players heading into training camp. And I don’t think they are in the best interest of us getting through an entire season.”

Dr. Thom Mayer, the NFLPA’s medical director, issued a statement June 20 advising players to avoid working out with teammates to prevent the spread of the coronaviru­s.

More than a dozen Bucs players — including new tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receiver Chris Godwin and centre Ryan Jensen — met at a Tampa prep school Tuesday morning for a two-hour workout, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Also present, per the Times, were backup quarterbac­ks Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin, wideout Scotty Miller and defensive backs Mike Edwards, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean.

Brady, 42, and teammates have been working out regularly at Berkeley Preparator­y School since mid-May.

Wilson posted a video of a workout with Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf earlier this week.

Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre said the Green Bay Packers should employ rookie quarterbac­k Jordan Love in much the same manner that the New Orleans Saints utilize Taysom Hill.

“I think there’s ways to incorporat­e it much like Taysom Hill with the Saints,” Favre told TMZ.com.

“Use (Love) as a halfback, a halfback pass, but occasional­ly let him run it just to show that you’ll do that. Something like that.”

Hill, 29, has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Saints, lining up as a quarterbac­k, running back, wide receiver and even on special teams.

The Packers traded up to acquire Love with the 26th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft.

Green Bay sent the Miami Dolphins a fourth-round pick (136th overall) April 23 in order to flip from the 30th to 26th pick and take Love.

Love is expected to wait in the wings behind two-time NFL MVP quarterbac­k Aaron Rodgers, who is heading into the first season of a four-year, $134-million extension he signed in August 2018.

He has cap hits of $21.6 million, $36.4 million, $39.9 million and $28.4 million over the next four seasons.

Love completed 61.9 per cent of his passes for 3,402 yards, 20 touchdowns and 17 intercepti­ons last season with Utah State, with the latter figure the most in the Football Bowl Subdivisio­n.

That was a major step back from 2018, when he completed 64 per cent of his passes for 3,567 yards, 32 touchdowns and six intercepti­ons.

Hill carried the ball 27 times for 156 yards and a touchdown in 2019, and he caught 19 passes for 234 yards and six scores.

He also appeared on 62 per cent of the Saints’ special teams plays.

Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Jermiah Braswell was arrested for driving under the influence Saturday, after his car wound up in Lake Erie, authoritie­s said.

Witnesses told police in Put-in-Bay, Ohio, that Braswell’s orange Camaro was moving at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway, veered through a grassy area, flew off an embankment and landed in the water.

Police found Braswell, 23, behind the wheel of the vehicle at about 6:30 p.m. ET.

His speech was slurred and he was unable to explain how he got there, according to records obtained by WTOL in Toledo.

After submitting to field sobriety tests, Braswell was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence.

Undrafted out of Youngstown State, Braswell signed with the Cardinals as a free agent April 27.

Braswell caught 24 passes for 515 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 starts for the Penguins as a senior in 2019.

Washington Redskins wide receiver Emanuel Hall will miss the upcoming season after suffering a torn Achilles last month.

Hall announced the news Friday on Instagram.

“Even though this is a major setback, I’m going to bounce back. I’m determined,” the 23-year-old Hall wrote.

Hall, who has yet to appear in a regular season game, joined the Redskins practice squad in December after previous sessions with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hall went undrafted in 2019 after recording 97 receptions for 2,016 yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons with Missouri (2015-18).

 ?? — GETTY IMAGES, FILE ?? Cam Newton will have the chance to compete with second-year quarterbac­k Jarrett Stidham to replace New England Patriots legend Tom Brady, who left as a free agent to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
— GETTY IMAGES, FILE Cam Newton will have the chance to compete with second-year quarterbac­k Jarrett Stidham to replace New England Patriots legend Tom Brady, who left as a free agent to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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