By 98.5 The Sports Hub Staff
Details of the Cam Newton Patriots contract have been reported, via CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora on Twitter.
Here are the key numbers:
— $1.05 million base salary
— $550,000 guaranteed
— $700,000 in per-game roster bonuses
— Up to $5.75 million in incentives
(Update: per Ian Rapoport, the roster bonuses total $700,000 with the incentives maxing out at $5.75 million.)
For context, Tom Brady’s per-game roster bonuses in 2018 and 2019 totaled $1 million, or $62,500 per game, per Spotrac.
The Cam Newton Patriots contract includes a minimal base salary and is loaded with incentives. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
The Newton contract also does not prevent the Patriots from applying the franchise tag after the 2020 season. The Pats notably voided that part of Brady’s contract in 2019, allowing him to enter free agency, where he ultimately signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2020 tag number for quarterbacks was set at $26.8 million.
The Patriots had just under $651,000 in salary cap space prior to signing Newton, per Miguel Benzan of the Boston Sports Journal. So Bill Belichick may need to maneuver cap money to accommodate enough space to handle Newton’s full contract. But, per Benzan, the Patriots won’t have to create any space if Newton’s contract maxes out at $1.4 million. (Update: Benzan has his new Patriots cap number at $263,489.)
Jason Fizgerald of Over The Cap tweeted that Newton’s guaranteed money indicates he signed for a “split salary,” which protects teams in the event that a player lands on injured reserve and also gives players incentive to focus on staying healthy. Rapoport confirmed this with his report that Newton is guaranteed just $550,000.
Newton is coming off surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in his left foot suffered during the 2019 season.
Sports Hub Sidelines Podcast
Ty Anderson and Matt Dolloff talked at length about the Patriots’ Cam Newton signing, the potential risks and rewards, and our thoughts on Newton’s career to this point on the latest Sports Hub Sidelines podcast. That, among other topics. Have a listen below.
Follow the New England Patriots and the National Football League at 985TheSportsHub.com.