He lost a starting opportunity to a former Alabama quarterback in New England, but is he willing to back up another former Crimson Tide signal-caller in Miami?
Cam Newton, a former Auburn standout, wants to be back in the National Football League.
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He was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2015, but injuries and inconsistency have plagued him since then. The 33-year-old played eight games in 2021 in his second stint with the Carolina Panthers. Newton believes that there are not 32 quarterbacks better than him in the league, but he finds himself in a position where he has to be a backup to return to the NFL. He has confidence in himself, but he states a list of notable quarterbacks — including Tua Tagovailoa — he would back up in a clip from NFL reporter Dov Kleiman. Newton states in the clip that he is willing to be a backup to someone in the league.
Update: Cam Newton says he’s willing to be a backup in the NFL.
Guys that he’s willing to backup include: Deshaun Watson, Sam Howell, Malik Willis, Fields, Tua, Josh, Hurts, Lamar, Rodgers, and 3 rookiespic.twitter.com/lNB5ZmTxqL
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 5, 2023
Tagovailoa was the fourth player Newton said he would serve as a backup for.
The Hawaiian native totaled 3,548 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns in 2022 for the Dolphins. He suffered multiple concussions that caused him to miss five games, but he was very productive when healthy. Miami picked up the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa’s rookie contract and believes he is the perfect fit for their system. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and Bryce Young (projected No. 1 overall pick) were two other former Tide quarterbacks Newton said he would not mind backing up.
If the Panthers get Young with the No. 1 pick, Newton could return for a third stint in Carolina.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
