Newton to sign deal with Pats

The Patriots have reached an agreement with free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, bringing in the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player to help the team move on from three-time MVP Tom Brady, according to reports Sunday night.

The one-year deal is worth up to $7.5 million with incentives.

The Patriots had been heading to training camp with 2019 fourth-round draft choice Jarrett Stidham as the heir apparent to Brady, who led the team to six Super Bowl wins since 2001 but signed with the Buccaneers this offseason. Stidham appeared in three games last season, completing two passes for 14 yards with one pick.

The only other experienced QBon the defending AFC East champions’ roster was 34-year-old Brian Hoyer, who has started 38 games in an 11-year career with seven NFL teams, including the Patriots twice.

The Panthers released Newton, 31, on March 24 following nine seasons, a move that saved the team $19.1 million under the NFL salary cap.

Auto racing: Denny Hamlin held off Kevin Harvick to win the second Cup race of the weekend at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, . Hamlin raced to his fourth victory of the season — and sixth at Pocono — to cap a wild, marathon day of racing at the track, with three NASCAR races and a near-darkness Cup finish. The Daytona 500 champ won the finale of the first NASCAR tripleheader at one track. The race was delayed by bad weather. Brandon Jones opened the day with a win in the Truck race and Chase Briscoe won the Xfinity race.

Baseball: Pirates reliever Edgar Santana will miss all of the abbreviated 2020 season after being suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. MLB announced Sunday that Santana, 28, tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.

NFL: Former Redskins assistant coach Joe Bugel, regarded as one of the top offensive line coaches in NFL history, died Sunday. He was 80. No cause of death was given.