UPDATE (3:25 p.m. ET): The Carolina Panthers officially released quarterback Cam Newton on Tuesday afternoon.
-- End of update --
A former NFL MVP quarterback is about to hit the open market. The New England Patriots just lost a former NFL MVP quarterback in Tom Brady.
So, should the Patriots consider signing Cam Newton? It's a fair question after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Carolina Panthers -- who just signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year contract -- are expected to release Newton on Tuesday.
At first blush, Newton in New England seems unlikely and Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports that the Patriots aren't interested at this time.
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Our Tom E. Curran reported Monday the Patriots view Jarrett Stidham as their starting quarterback and aren't looking to trade for a veteran QB like Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota, who may offer better production but at much worse value.
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Schefter reported the same Monday on ESPN's "Get Up!", directly mentioning Newton's $19.1 million salary for 2020 and Dalton's $17 million contract as reasons why the Patriots wouldn't pursue either player.
"I don't think the Patriots are clamoring for either option right now," Schefter said. "There's nobody that the Patriots have identified that that money is worth spending on."
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After Newton's release, however, he may not earn that $19.1 million, which isn't fully guaranteed. The soon-to-be 31-year-old played in just two games last season due to a foot injury, and he may find that no team is willing to pay him in that range due to injury and age concerns.
It sounds like Newton would have to take a significant pay cut for New England to even consider him, and there's a good chance at least one team will throw money at him to help boost ticket sales.
But Bill Belichick loves value, and the longer Newton goes unsigned in free agency, the more likely it becomes that the Patriots will scoop him up.