Panthers: Cam can seek trade . . . Cam: Huh?
The Panthers are parting ways with Cam Newton and have found his replacement. Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday via Twitter the team is giving the 31-yearold quarterback permission to seek a trade — although the former league MVP responded by saying he never requested one.
“Every year difficult decisions are made and they are never easy,” Hurney said. “We have been working with Cam and his agent to find the best fit for him moving forward and he will always be a Carolina Panther in our hearts.”
Newton was quick to respond to the Panthers on social media, saying he didn’t ask for the trade.
“Stop the word play!!” Newton tweeted. “I never asked for it!! There is no dodging this one; I love the Panthers to death and will always love you guys!! Please do not try and play me or manipulate the narrative and act like I wanted this: You forced me into this.”
The Panthers agreed to a three-year, $63 million contract with free agent QB Teddy Bridgewater as a replacement for Newton.
The 27-year-old Bridgewater spent the past two seasons with the Saints and led them to five straight victories while Drew Brees was injured, completing 68% of his passes with nine touchdown passes and two interceptions. Bridgewater previously worked one season in New Orleans with Joe Brady, who is now Carolina’s offensive coordinator, and would have some familiarity with the offensive scheme.
Newton has battled shoulder and foot injuries the last two seasons and lost his last eight starts for the Panthers.
RIVERS OFF TO COLTS
Philip Rivers spent more than a decade picking apart the Indianapolis Colts and irritating their fans.
Today, he’ll become their new quarterback.
The longtime Chargers star agreed to a one-year contract with Indy on Tuesday, according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
General manager Chris Ballard has now filled two major offseason needs in two days — adding an eighttime Pro Bowl quarterback to the roster less than 24 hours after acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in a trade with San Francisco.
“Any time we have a chance to acquire a player that makes us better at any position, we’re going to do it,” Ballard said at his end of the season news conference in January. “So I wouldn’t just focus on the quarterback position.”
It’s hard not to when making this kind of investment in a 38-year-old, 16year veteran who produced his fewest touchdown passes, 23, since 2007 and his most interceptions, 20, since 2016. It was one reason the Chargers decided not to bring back the franchise’s career passing leader.
BREES: TWO MORE YEARS
The Saints and recordsetting quarterback Drew Brees have agreed on a twoyear, $50 million contract, a person familiar with the situation said.
Brees has said repeatedly that he is taking career decisions one year at a time. His new contract gives the 41-year-old, 19-year veteran the leverage to decide after this season whether he wants to continue playing.