A week after his surprise release from the Patriots, Cam Newton has yet to find a new NFL home. But he's not ready to say goodbye to the NFL. The 32-year-old former MVP took to Instagram on Wednesday to tease a new edition of his "Funky Friday" social media series, and after vowing that he has "a lot of things that I need to get off my chest," the veteran confirmed he's not retiring and has "a lot of football still in me."
This echoes previous reporting from CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora, who's noted that Newton is far from done with football, but simply hasn't garnered much interest on the open market, both prior to and following his stint with the Patriots. Just Wednesday, La Canfora speculated that New England itself could be a future destination for Newton, considering coach Bill Belichick's ongoing affinity for the ex-Panthers star and the potential need for Mac Jones insurance.
Newton is fresh off a competition for the Patriots' starting QB job, which now belongs to the rookie Jones. Since becoming a free agent, however, he's reportedly been thin on interest from other teams. Some clubs, like the Cowboys and Steelers, have been speculated as logical landing spots because of backup needs, but no real connection has materialized.
A three-time Pro Bowler with the Panthers from 2011-2019, Newton started 15 games for New England in 2020 while battling COVID-19 and lingering effects from a years-old shoulder injury. He remained effective on the ground, buoying the Pats' rushing attack with 592 yards and 12 touchdowns, but struggled as a passer, finishing the year with just eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
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