Former New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton sees method in the madness happening right now with the Carolina Panthers, and it could involve coach Bill Belichick.
Newton, a former NFL MVP and longtime Panthers quarterback, threw out a scenario involving Panthers owner David Tepper vying for the services of Belichick in 2024.
The Panthers have opened up the coaching search after firing Frank Reich in the middle of the season. It’s a young, rebuilding team in need of some new direction. Who better to do that than a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach?
“I think, Tepper, knowing what I do know, he’s hoping that he can land Bill Belichick,” Newton said, during an episode of “4th&1 with Cam Newton.” “That right there will be a win-win-win-win for David Tepper.”
“…The thing that I know would be the enticing lure to it, is because Tepper will give him everything that he would need. And also, that will allow Belichick to say, ‘You know what, things didn’t work out [with the Patriots]. Now I can show you I can do it somewhere else.'”
Belichick going to the Panthers would only make sense for two reasons: He’s determined to continue coaching, and that’s the only option left on the table. Outside of those two things, it’s a terrible fit on paper.
The Panthers are just as broken offensively as the Patriots, and they aren’t as talented on the defensive side. Tepper also isn’t an owner known for taking a backseat and trusting the pieces in place to run the team. After spending over two decades with a hands-off owner in Robert Kraft, it’s hard to envision a 71-year-old Belichick co-existing with an owner butting into the football side of things.
It would be a disastrous pairing that both sides would be better off avoiding altogether.
