Matt Rhule, Panthers Discuss Trading Cam Newton
Matt Rhule and the Panthers discussed trading Cam Newton on Wednesday.
Earlier this week Rhule made news when he signed a seven-year deal worth $60 million with Carolina. According to multiple reports, the total sum of the contract could be worth $70 million with incentives when it is all said and done.
Speaking to reporters at his introductory press conference, Rhule was immediately confronted with an obvious question: what is going to happen with Newton?
The former league MVP is under contract next season, but there has been a lot of chatter about the Panthers possibly trading him away. If the team did so, it could save $19.1 million under the salary cap.
Publicly Newton has maintained that he wants to remain in Carolina. Privately he has done that as well, but he has also acknowledged that he would be willing to play for the Chicago Bears.
When pressed on Wednesday whether he wanted retain Newton as his quarterback, Rhule kept his answer somewhat vague.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule says that he talked to QB Cam Newton yesterday, but is non-committal on his plans at quarterback.
(Which makes sense since he just got there.)
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 8, 2020
“I certainly look forward to working with him,” Rhule responded.
“I hope so. But I don’t know enough about, really, everything that’s kinda happening right now.”
Still, Rhule made it a point to note that he had nothing but the utmost respect for Newton and his accomplishments.
“He’s a tremendous player,” he continued.
“He’s a tremendous winner. He’s done a lot of great things,” Rhule said of Newton.
“If I have a chance to coach him, I know exactly that I’m getting one of the best guys, best winners that the NFL’s seen.”
The Panthers will likely make a decision on Newton’s future with the organization at some point in the next few months.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
