Carolina: Newton out, Bridgewater in
The Carolina Panthers have found a replacement for Cam Newton — and it didn’t take long.
The Panthers have agreed to a three-year, $63 million contract with free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The deal cannot be announced until the start of the league year today.
The Panthers announced earlier they were parting ways with Newton, their No. 1 overall pick in 2011.
Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday via Twitter the team is giving the 31-year-old 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 27-year-old Bridgewater spent the past two seasons with the Saints and led them to five straight wins 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.
A former No. 1 overall pick in 2011, Newton made the Pro Bowl three times and was the NFL’s MVP in 2015 when he led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. He holds most of the franchise’s passing records and has run for more touchdowns than any QB in league history.
But Newton is coming off Lisfranc fracture in his left foot and there has been plenty of uncertainty around his future — partly because of his injury status and partly because the team could save $19 million under the 2020 salary cap by trading or releasing him.
Panthers owner David Tepper, who has been noncommittal on Newton’s future with the team ever since last season, released what amounted to a goodbye statement Tuesday on Twitter saying “I wish him all of the best.”
“He’s one of the all-time greats in Panthers history,” Tepper said. “If you ask any of our fans for their most memorable moments, I’m willing to bet that most of them will include Cam — electrifying plays, giving away footballs after touchdowns, fun celebrations and big wins . ... His competitive and drive and rare. Off the field, you can’t measure Cam’s contributions. He has touched the lives of youths throughout the Carolinas and Atlanta.”
The decision to part ways with Newton is the latest in a complete organizational overhaul.
The team fired two-time Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Ron Rivera with four games left in last season and hired a college coach, Baylor’s Matt Rhule, this offseason to take over. Nearly the entire coaching staff is new, including Brady.
DEALS COULD BE DELAYED DUE TO LACK OF PHYSICALS >>
While NFL teams are making deals at a rapid pace, the time frame for trades and free agent contracts to be finalized could be slowed significantly due to complications related to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a league memo obtained by NFL. com’s Tom Pelissero, “clubs should consider including contingency language in trade agreements to account for a scenario where a player is unable to take and pass a physical.”
The league also is prohibiting teams from announcing free agent acquisitions that are agreed to but not finalized pending the player passing a physical exam. Only completed contracts may be announced. Thus, when the league’s new business year commences today, there likely won’t be the usual array of signing announcements.
The NFL and the NFL
Players Association on Monday agreed to ban players and team representatives from traveling for meetings regarding free agent moves, and players are barred from entering team facilities through the end of March.
RIVERS HEADED TO INDY >>
Philip Rivers spent more than a decade picking apart the Indianapolis Colts and irritating their fans.
On Wednesday, 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 because the deal cannot be officially announced until today.
General manager Chris Ballard has now filled two major offseason needs in two days — adding an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback to the roster less than 24 hours after acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in a trade with San Francisco.
BIG DEAL FOR QUINN >>
The Chicago Bears have agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with former All-Pro defensive end Robert Quinn, giving them another elite pass rusher to line up opposite outside linebacker Khalil Mack.
Agent Sean Kiernan confirmed the deal, which includes $30 million guaranteed, to the NFL Network.
Quinn bounced back with 11 ½ sacks last year following a trade to Dallas from Miami despite a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy against performance-enhancing drugs. He finished with single-digit sacks the previous four seasons for the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams and the Dolphins. Quinn, who turns 30 in May, had 19 sacks for St. Louis in an All-Pro season in 2013 and had 10 ½ the following year on the way to his second straight Pro Bowl selection. He has 80 ½ in nine seasons.
BREES RETURNING TO SAINTS >>
The Saints and record-setting quarterback Drew Brees have agreed on a two-year, $50 million contract, a person familiar with the situation said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. Brees has said repeatedly that he is taking career decision 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.
SHORT YARDAGE >> Ryan Shazier’s NFL career is over. For now at least.
The Pittsburgh Steelers placed the inside linebacker on the reserved/retired list on Tuesday. Shazier spent the last two seasons on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from a spinal injury suffered in December 2017.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert called the move “a matter of protocol” so the club could “ensure his continued inclusion within our organization moving forward in his professional career.”
• The Cincinnati Bengals are devoting serious money to upgrading their defense, reportedly agreeing Tuesday to give nearly $100 million to a pair of free agents.
First, the team and defensive tackle D.J. Reader agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract, per multiple reports. Then cornerback Trae Waynes agreed to join the team on a threeyear, $42 million deal, the NFL Network reported. Reader recorded a careerbest 52 tackles in 15 games (all starts) for the Houston Texans last season. He had 2.5 sacks.
• The New York Giants have added another former Green Bay Packers linebacker. The team has reached an agreement with Kyler Fackrell on a reported one-year contract.
The Giants agreed to terms with former Packers middle linebacker Blake Martinez on Monday. They also reached a deal with Panthers cornerback James Bradberry and franchised defensive tackle Leonard Williams the same day.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a three-year, $9.75 million contract with fullback Derek Watt, ESPN reported. Watt, 27, joins his young brother T.J. on the Steelers, and 25-year-old T.J. was pleased with the development.
“LETS GOOOOO !!!!!!!! Welcome to #SteelersNation !!!!!!!! @DerekWatt34,” T.J. Watt said on Twitter.
• Linebacker Joe Schobert and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a five-year, $53.75 million deal, according to multiple reports.