Panthers, Newton reunite; Rams sign Beckham Jr.
Superman has returned. Whether or not Cam Newton can save the Carolina Panthers’ sinking season remains to be seen.
The Panthers (4-5) announced they’ve agreed to a one-year contact with Newton, bringing him back to the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2011 — and later cut him prior to the 2020 season after losing eight straight games.
The deal is worth $10 million, including $4.5 million in fully guaranteed money and a $1.5 million roster bonus, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team does not announce financial terms of players’ contracts.
“A healthy Cam Newton is a special player,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said.
Carolina was in need of a quarterback after an MRI on Monday revealed starter Sam Darnold would miss at least four weeks with a incomplete fracture of his right shoulder blade.
Rhule said he called Newton on Tuesday night to gauge his interest in returning to Carolina, and the quarterback was excited about the possibility.
“He loves Charlotte. He loves the Carolina Panthers. He made that very clear to me,” Rhule said.
Rhule said P.J. Walker will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals and
Matt Barkley, signed off the Tennessee Titans practice squad earlier in the week, will serve as his primary backup. Rhule isn’t sure if Newton would be active this week because he hasn’t practiced yet.
Elsewhere: The Los Angeles Rams signed Odell Beckham Jr., to a one-year deal, three days after the disgruntled wide receiver was released by the
Browns.
ETC.
Golf: Marc Leishman, Russell Henley, Talor Gooch Luke List
and shared the lead in the suspended
first round of the Houston Open, with List still on the course when darkness stopped play. Rain delayed the start for 2 1⁄2 hours, with 0.9 inches falling at Memorial Park. None of the afternoon starters completed play. Leishman, Henley and
Gooch each finished at 5-under 65, while List had three holes left when play was called for the day .... Bernhard Langer squatted to tee up his ball instead of bending at the waist. Lining up putts looked like he was doing calf stretches against a wall, more of a chest-high view than ground level. By the sixth hole, the 64-year-old gave up on retrieving the ball from the hole altogether, asking caddie Terry Holt to do it for him. Playing through pain, Langer shot a 3-under 68 in the opening round of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix, putting him three behind
Phil Mickelson and two others . ... Solheim Cup star
Leona Maguire thrived in a star grouping with an 8-under 62 for a two-shot lead over defending champion Sei Young Kim in the Pelican Women’s Championship in Belleair, Florida . ... Antoine Rozner got off to a strong start to his title defense at the Dubai Championship, shooting 7-under 65 to trail firstround leader JB Hansen by two strokes.
MLB A looming lockout at the expiration of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement Dec. 1 didn’t change much at the general manager’s meetings this week in Carlsbad, California. Despite an offseason that figures to be different than any since baseball’s last labor stoppage in 199495, the GM meetings went on as planned in Southern California. Just four roster moves were made during the two-day meetings.
Tennis: Sebastian Korda and Brandon Nakashima set up an allAmerican semifinal at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Mila, Italy, by winning their last round-robin matches . ...
Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the semifinals of
an ATP Tour event for the fifth time this season with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Botic de Zandschulp at the Stockholm Open . ... Alison Riske advanced to the final of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz when fellow American
Danielle Collins pulled out of their match with a right arm injury after losing the first set 7-5.
Soccer: Christian Pulisic will not start in the United States’ World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Friday. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said he envisions the 23-year-old Chelsea winger entering the game off the bench.