Cam Newton says he has 'a lot of interest' in NFL comeback, but no teams have called
Cam Newton joined The Dan Patrick Show this week, where he opened up about his time away from the NFL.
The former league MVP has been sitting on the outside looking in since the end of his second stint with the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Some have wondered why that is, especially with the subpar quarterback play we’ve witnessed throughout 2023 for numerous squads.
According to the former Auburn Tigers star, there’s been a lot of interest from squads, but he’s been playing the free agent game long enough to where he can siphon through potential suitors.
He’s not going to reach out to teams, it’s up to whichever franchise wants him to come and get him, even if no teams have actually called over the past two years.
“I know it doesn’t matter how many time you call. If they don’t want you, they’re not going to pick up,” Newton explained. “So at the end of the day, I’ve known the NFL to do and be very intentional in what they do. It’s not manipulation and no swing. It doesn’t matter if I call them, if they don’t want me.”
Additionally, Newton added that he’s, “really locked in and (focusing) on the things that (he) can control right now.”
That includes teams not wanting Newton to come in and overshadow their starting quarterback. Newton knows he has a boisterous personality, and that can outshine the biggest star on the team, especially when they’re struggling.
“What do you say to a Dak Prescott? What do you say to a Derek Carr? What do you say to a healthy Deshaun Watson? What do you say to you know, at that particular point in time, Zach Wilson, ‘Cam Newton’s coming to town, but by all means, we want you to be the best version of yourself,'” Newton added, putting the situation into perspective.
Regardless, Newton is likely still one of the top 32 quarterbacks walking the Earth. The fact that he’s remained unsigned for this long begs the question of whether it’s coaching, financial or a different factor keeping him sidelined.
Another issue Newton could run into is the longer he remains unsigned, the less likely it becomes that a team will take a chance on him. He swears he’s fresh as ever, but that remains to be seen, and too much time away is never a good thing.
The NFL could use the return of Cam Newton, and Cam Newton could use the NFL. He’s still only 34-years old. It’d be a heck of a story if he could get one last chance to prove himself to the league.