NEW YORK — It is inevitable in every athlete’s career that the sport will move on without them.
The NFL machine continued to roll on without Cam Newton last season. But Newton is not ready to end his NFL career.
Although he believes he can be a starting NFL quarterback again, Newton said on his YouTube channel on Wednesday that he is willing to be a backup. However, there are only 12 QBs he is willing to be the No. 2 for.
The quarterbacks Newton said he would back up are Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa, Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, Malik Willis, Sam Howell, Aaron Rodgers, along with C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson, three players who are expected to be selected early in the 2023 NFL draft.
“I know a lot of people have a lot of things to say in regards to my future in the NFL and I wanted to set the record straight by saying this is how I feel,” Newton said. “There ain’t 32 guys who are better than me, but I also know that I could also be a backup and I’m willing to be a backup.”
There was a time when Newton was one of the faces of the NFL. In 2015, Newton led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl after a 15-1 campaign before losing to the Denver Broncos. The three-time Pro Bowler was also named the league’s top player in the NFL’s Top 100 before the start of the 2016 season.
But since then, Newton has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play on the field. He had surgery on his throwing shoulder both in 2016 and 2018. The former Auburn star also missed most of the 2019 season after he aggravated a left foot injury he had previously injured during that preseason.
Newton played during the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Patriots and Panthers, but he looked like a shell of his former self. During those two years, Newton passed for 3,341 yards, 12 TDS and 15 interceptions in 23 games. That’s likely a big reason why the soon-to-be 34-year-old went unsigned last year.
Last month, Newton threw during Auburn’s Pro Day to show scouts he is still good enough to be on an NFL roster. While Newton listed teams he would be a backup for, they’re only a few of them that could make some sense.
Newton mentioned signing with the Browns and backing up Watson as last year’s backup in Cleveland, Jacoby Brissett, signed with the Commanders this offseason.
“I would back up Deshaun Watson,” Newton said. “It goes without saying, me and Deshaun Watson’s relationship ... I’ve grown to admire the person, the athlete that he is.
“Going through a lot of turmoil, but I believe that’s behind him and I know that I can provide services for him on the field, as well as off the field.”
The turmoil Newton is referring to is Watson being suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. Watson faced dozens of allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and assault from massage therapists while playing for the Texans.
Although he shares a similar skill set as Watson, the Browns signed Joshua Dobbs recently and also have Kellen Mond on their roster.
The Dolphins (Mike White, Skylar Thompson), Bears (P.J. Walker), Titans (Willis backs up Ryan Tannehill), Eagles (Marcus Mariota), Jets (Zach Wilson), Bills (Kyle Allen) and Commanders also appear to be set at their respective backup positions.
That leaves the Ravens as their quarterback situation is in flux with Lamar Jackson asking for a trade. Tyler Huntley would likely be Baltimore’s starter unless the team decides to draft a quarterback later this month.
But if Newton says he would only be willing to be a backup QB for certain teams, is he really committed to that role? For a player who sat out a full season, shouldn’t the former top pick be willing to come into any situation if he got offered an opportunity?
Sometimes, people have to understand where they are in life, and for Newton, this isn’t 2016 anymore.
Newton likely said he would be willing to be a backup at many of these places simply because he thinks there’s a chance he would play at some point. But being a backup quarterback takes a certain mindset that Newton doesn’t appear to have. If he did, he wouldn’t publicly say he had a list of situations he would be comfortable in.
Newton’s arrogance and his unrealistic views have been a problem for years and are once again on full display during this video. There’s a reason why NFL teams aren’t calling him.
What if Newton doesn’t play while being a backup and the team is consistently losing? Would Newton cause a distraction? He isn’t necessarily a player who is seen and not heard?
Also, does a team want Newton mentoring their young quarterback, especially with his short-sighted mindset? That’s probably why teams will likely go in a different direction at their backup QB spots.
The last time we saw Newton play he was not good enough to deserve a starting role. He completed just 54.8% of his passes for 684 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 230 yards and five TDs in eight games (five starts) in his second stint with the Panthers in 2021. Carolina was 0-5 in those starts. He later was benched for Sam Darnold.
Could Newton be a backup at this stage of his career? Sure. But is it worth bringing him in knowing his best days are far behind him?
It’s time for Newton to be real with himself and where he is in 2023. If teams thought he was one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the league, he would have a job. Until he looks at himself in the mirror, Newton is going to be waiting a while before an NFL team comes calling.
He also might have to face that his NFL career could already be over.
