Cam Newton odds update: Former NFL MVP reportedly will not sign to be backup
According to a report, former Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will not sign with any team to be its backup.
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Will former Heisman Trophy winner, No. 1 overall pick, Rookie of the Year and NFL MVP Cam Newton let his pride get in the way of earning a paycheck in the 2020 NFL season? According to a report over the weekend from Joe Person of The Athletic, apparently yes: Person shared on Twitter that there is "no way" Newton will sign with any team as a backup and that Newton would "wait until a starter gets hurt" to sign with anyone.
There are no starting jobs open at this time, and the problem in waiting for a quarterback to get hurt is that there are no offseason activities due to the coronavirus, so that obviously hugely lessens the chances one would get injured unless it's working out on his own or something not-football related. Hey, the latter is possible as Newton himself suffered two transverse process fractures in his lower back during a car crash in 2014. However, he was able to play in a game less than two weeks later.
It appeared that the markets for Newton and Andy Dalton largely overlapped, but Dalton surprised many by signing over the weekend with the Dallas Cowboys. He has zero chance of starting over Dak Prescott, but Dalton is from the Dallas area (played collegiately at TCU in Fort Worth) and didn't want to have to move his family during a coronavirus pandemic.
Realistically, the only places where Newton might have a chance to start now remain the two teams favored to land him via SportsLine oddsmakers: Jacksonville and New England. The Jags are going with second-year sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew II under center and the Pats second-year fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham. Newton can't beat those guys out?
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Dalton had been connected to the Jaguars thanks to his history with Jacksonville offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders recently said he thought Newton should go to Jacksonville.
Most around the NFL don't believe Newton does sign until the NFL lifts its restrictions due to coronavirus and teams can have Newton examined by their doctors. He was limited to two games last year because of a foot problem and has had a few shoulder surgeries. A reunion on the Redskins with former Panthers coach Ron Rivera is still possible.
Newton is a +1000 sixth-favorite on the moneyline odds at William Hill sportsbook to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year despite being without a team.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will Cam Newton be on Week 1 of the 2020 season?