Cam Newton, recently released by the New England Patriots after Mac Jones was anointed starting quarterback, is not yet ready to call it quits.
Newton released a video on his Instagram Wednesday, mainly saying he’ll be saying more on Friday, but affirmed that he is not done with the sport of football.
“Funky Friday: I have a lot of things that I need to get off my chest,” he said. “This is not a retirement speech, and I have a lot of football still in me.”
The when and where of the football Newton says he still has left in him may not actually be up to him. Glancing around the league, the only really tenuous starting quarterback situation is with the Houston Texans, where Deshaun Watson is in indefinite limbo after a litany of sexual misconduct allegations from masseuses (Tyrod Taylor has been tabbed as starter). Nevertheless, in the event an injury occurs with another starter, Newton is probably a better option than most of the league’s backups.
Newton and the Patriots were off to a relatively promising 2-1 start to the 2020 season before he was diagnosed with COVID-19. When he returned around Halloween, the Patriots proceeded to drop three straight games and never really regained their footing. Newton’s aggregate stats last year included a 65.8% completion percentage, eight touchdown passes, 10 interceptions, and 12 rushing touchdowns.
We shall see if he winds up catching on with another team, as the market was not on fire for the former MVP’s services in either of the past two offseasons.