Newton plans to file grievance after his release from team
Rehabilitating veteran offensive right tackle shown door after failing franchise physical
Veteran offensive tackle Derek Newton reported to work at the Texans’ training facility Thursday morning in anticipation of another grueling rehabilitation session.
Newton was surprised and disappointed when, instead of working out, he was informed by the Texans he was being released from the team, according to a league source familiar with his thinking not authorized to speak publicly. The Texans made the move official hours later, cutting their former starting right tackle with a failed physical designation.
A grievance is being planned for Newton, who was trying to make an unprecedented comeback from tearing both patellar tendons in his knees. Newton has experienced no setbacks and had been making major progress in his recovery, by all accounts.
Newton, 30, hopes to resume his career despite the disappointment of the abrupt end of his tenure with the Texans and remains passionate about football, according to a source familiar with the former Arkansas State standout’s thinking.
Newton wasn’t paid a $500,000 roster bonus due April 1 under the terms of his restructured contract. And that will be disputed under the grievance.
Newton (6-5, 307) has been trying to resurrect his NFL career two years after suffering a gruesome injury when he fell backward trying to block Denver Broncos pass rusher Von
Miller during a Monday night game.
Newton had been making steady progress in his rehabilitation, but hadn’t reached the point where team doctors and trainers felt comfortable having him resume practicing with his teammates.
Newton underwent a team physical March 23 where he didn’t complete a straight leg raise, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly. Newton has also experienced minor swelling and soreness.
But Newton got a positive second opinion from renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews following the Texans’ examination of his legs. Andrews was of the opinion that Newton could join his teammates on the field for workouts in some capacity.
‘Terrific teammate’
Texans team physician Dr. Walter Lowe performed the original surgery when Newton got hurt against the Broncos and examined Newton again, noting the inability to regain full range of motion, according to a source.
“I’ve always admired Derek Newton’s work ethic and dedication to the game of football,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said after the lineman was cut from the roster. “He has been a terrific teammate and someone who constantly put the team first. We wish him the best.”
A former starter at guard and tackle, Newton wasn’t expected to do much, if anything, on the field this spring, according to O’Brien. Newton had started all but two games in four seasons from 2012 to 2015 and drawn praise for his versatility and toughness.
“I would say he’s on schedule, but I wouldn’t say that he’d be able to do a ton of things this spring,” O’Brien said recently at the NFL owners’ meetings “Nobody’s worked harder than Derek Newton to try to get back to where he is.”
Money matters
Placed on the reserve physically unable to perform list due to torn patellar tendons last season, Newton was originally due $4.75 million in base salaries for 2017, 2018 and 2019. He was paid a guaranteed $1.75 million base salary last year under a restructured contract and had been due non-guaranteed base salaries of $2.25 million and $2 million in 2018 and 2019 before his deal was terminated.
His contract had been altered to a three-year, $10 million deal in the renegotiation of his original fiveyear, $26.5 million contract extension signed in 2015. He’s not due any additional compensation unless he wins his planned grievance.
In 2018, Newton was scheduled for $2 million total in per-game active roster bonuses.
In 2019, Newton had a $1 million total per-game active roster bonus.
Newton’s salary-cap figures were $5.5 million for 2018 and $3.75 million for 2019.
A winner of the 2017 Ed Block Courage award voted by his teammates, Newton was a 2011 seventhround draft pick who played in 82 games with 68 career starts. He stared 56 consecutive games from 2012 to 2016, the fifth-longest active streak in the NFL at that time.
The Texans are expected to start former Buffalo Bills lineman Seantrel Henderson at right tackle and former fourth-round draft pick Julie’n Davenport at left tackle, barring a trade or major draft pick.