Newton Signs One-Year Deal with Patriots

(AP Photo/Mike McCarn) @ap.images

Former NFL MVP and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is headed to New England.

The Pats let Tom Brady walk during free agency this offseason, and now they’ve signed Newton and Brian Hoyer to one-year deals to compete with Jarrett Stidham for the starting QB job.

Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has reached agreement on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the New England Patriots, league sources tell @mortreport and me.

Newton now will step into the mix to try to help replace former Patriots’ QB Tom Brady.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 28, 2020

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it has been almost impossible for NFL team doctors to evaluate free agents, and Newton’s injury history caused teams to hesitate. In fact, on ESPN’s morning TV show, Get Up, Adam Schefter said no other team had interest in Newton.

Then Schefter clarified his comment on Twitter: The Pats were the only team to offer Newton a deal.

Patriots were the only team to make an offer to Cam Newton. But there as one other team that checked in with him.

🎧: https://t.co/DNOemoWSA9 pic.twitter.com/skg5oN6fun

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 29, 2020

Newton has suffered a number of injuries throughout his career, some more severe than others. In the last two years, he’s had three main injuries, according to SportsInjuryPredictor.com:

Knee strain (suffered ligament and cartilage damage, as well as extensive swelling, avoided surgery);
Shoulder (played through injury in 2018 until the final two games of the season, surgery Jan. 2019; before that, surgery March 2017 on same shoulder for rotator cuff tear);
Pedal Lisfranc Sprain (aggravated a left foot injury in Week 2, missed the rest of the season)

After Brady signed with Tampa Bay, many fans (and some experts) assumed the Patriots domination of the NFL was over. Clearly, Bill Belichick had other ideas.

People all over the internet: the Patriots’ run is over in the AFC East

Bill Belichick: Welcome Cam Newton

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 29, 2020

ESPN also gave us a “first look” at what Newton may look like in a Pats jersey.