Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Browns were reportedly in contact with Cam Newton.
While not a ton of information had been released about Cam Newton’s free agency, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots went ahead and ending things on Sunday night by signing the former MVP to a one-year deal. As it turns out, the Pats weren’t the only team interested in his services.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Cleveland Browns were also in on potentially bringing Newton to town.
Patriots were the only team to make an offer to Cam Newton. But there was one other team that checked in with him.
🎧: https://t.co/DNOemoWSA9 pic.twitter.com/skg5oN6fun
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 29, 2020
Will Baker Mayfield be motivated by the Browns showing interest in Cam Newton?
How does that make you feel, Baker Mayfield? Schefter did say the talks between the Browns and Newton really never took off, and the two sides were nowhere close to getting any kind of a deal done. However, the fact they even reached out to Newton shouldn’t sit well with Mayfield.
After acquiring several key targets last offseason, highlighted by the addition of standout wide Odell Beckham Jr., many experts pegged the Browns as a dark-horse contender to get to the Super Bowl. Instead, the team didn’t even make the playoffs and fired Freddie Kitchens after going 6-10 in 2019.
Mayfield had his fair share of struggles last season, throwing for 3,827 yards and 22 touchdowns, but with an abysmal 21 interceptions. You could see the frustration growing for Beckham, Jarvis Landry and other key offensive players when Mayfield would make a bone-headed mistake.
Despite his struggles, new head coach Kevin Stefanski has spoken glowingly of the former Oklahoma Sooner and expects big things from him in 2020. Still, what kind of message is Cleveland sending to the young quarterback if they were also in contact with Newton and his camp?
@CameronNewton U been workin! U deserve tht! SWEAAAAAH!!! 😭😭😭
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) June 29, 2020
Mayfield very well may have dodged a bullet with Newton ending up signing with the Pats. We’ll see if that motivates him to ball out for the Browns this fall.