NFL free agent quarterback Cam Newton was once an MVP and leader of a near-undefeated Carolina Panthers team, but that and more doesn't appear to interest New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who's dealing with a hole at quarterback himself.
Per Joseph Person in The Athletic:
Some observers have made a big deal of the nice things Bill Belichick said about Newton after he beat the Patriots in two regular-season meetings. That storyline seemed to be a little overblown. Plus, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wasn’t necessarily high on Newton when he was talking to the Panthers about their head coaching vacancy, according to a source.
Newton, 30, is currently out of a job after his longtime Panthers team released him this offseason. During the 2019 season, the three-time Pro Bowl signal-caller only appeared in Carolina's first two games, missing the rest of the campaign with a Lisfranc fracture and seeing backup and formerly-undrafted gunslinger Kyle Allen take over quarterbacking duties.
The Panthers then signed New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, winner of five straight games last regular season while star Drew Brees was out with a thumb injury, to a massive deal this spring to pick up the pieces under center, releasing Newton.
The Newton-to-New England reports started following Tom Brady's departure in free agency for the NFC South's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Patriots have a vacancy at quarterback, with Newton at the top of the list for best QBs available — assuming his health holds up.
At the current juncture, McDaniels, the one-time coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009-10, has rising sophomore Jarrett Stidham and veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer contending for the starting role.
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