Cam Newton Joins a Growing Chorus of Rumors Saying Belichick Will Be Coaching the Panthers Next Year

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

What every Patriots observer from the ones who hate them the most (Rex Ryan) to the most fundamentalist Belichickian extremist (me) recognizes is that the idea of Bill Belichick not being on the Patriots sidelines beyond the end of this season is a very real possibility. It's a hard reality to accept, but it gets realer by the loss, the turnover, the 3 & out, the missed field goal, and every time a player he gave up on (Jakobi Meyers, Jonnu Smith, Nick Folk) outperforms the ones he replaced them with (pretty much everybody).

So when a former player of his sounds confident he knows where Belichick will be heading soon, he's worth listening to. Even if he's just speculating and not actually reporting, that's an informed opinion and deserves to be taken seriously. 

That player is Cam Newton, who discussed the topic with Big Cat on his YouTube channel. And unsurprisingly has him going to Carolina:

“I think (David) Tepper, knowing what I do know, he’s hoping that he can land Bill Belichick. That right there will be a win-win-win-win for David Tepper. …

“The thing that I know would be the enticing lure to it, is because Tepper will give him everything that he would need. And also that will allow Belichick to say, ‘You know what, things didn’t work out (in New England), now I can show you I can do it somewhere else.’“

I'm not about to chisel Newton's speculation into granite. But unlike the rest of the football intelligentsia who seem to be fantasizing about this because they're sick of Belichick putting them into body bags all these years:

… I'll give Newton's idea the respect he deserves. 

But that doesn't mean I'm buying it. Not by a damned sight. For two simple words. In Latin, they are "Cui bono?" In English, "Who benefits?"

How would it be for David Tepper? Gee, I can't claim to have a crystal ball or anything. But it seems to me that going from Frank Reich and now Chris Tabor to the most successful coach of all time would be a net positive for him. It can't hurt the Panthers organization to become relevant in the time it takes for Belichick to sign his contract at his introductory press conference and not only start selling out the place, but creating a backlog on the season ticket waiting list. And for sure it'll be good for busines when he's set to break Don Shula's unbreakable win record and makes Carolina the center of the football universe for a few weeks. So good on Tepper. 

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But cui else bonos? Let's take a look.

Belichick? So, he gets to be a GM in Carolina. Super duper. As if that's something he has to negotiate. Like owners are going to drive a hard bargain on that particular point. With Belichick, it's a prerequisite. You're not about to ask him to give up the absolute power he enjoys. Make him work for someone else like he's some journeyman just happy to get a job. With the possible exception of the Andy Reid/Brett Veach braintrust in Kansas City, there's not a situation in the league where ownership wouldn't grind the coach and GM into kibble and feed them to Belichick's dog if it pleases him. Furthermore, why at the age of 71 would he want to take over the worst roster in the league. The only one worse than the one he's leaving, at that. And with Bryce Young at quarterback, one of only four QBs in the league with a lower passer rating than Mac Jones. The weather and the golfing in North Carolina are great. But not great enough for a guy with one last shot to redeem himself to take over that team when he'll have the pick of the options. No sale. 

The Patriots? Moving on from Belichick will be the hardest decision in Mr. Kraft's nearly 60 years of running businesses. What won't be a hard decision is demanding a king's ransom if he does let him go. Belichick is under contract, which means the Krafts will get something for letting him go. A lot of something. His replacement will take over with a fortune in assets with which to rebuild. And that is going to include a massive Return on Investment in a trade for the greatest coach of all time. To let Bill Parcells leave in 1997, he got from the Jets that year's 1st, two 2nds, a 3rd and a 4th. To get Belichick from the Jets in 2000, he gave a 1st back to Parcells. That isn't even the baseline where the demands will start. Anyone interest in obtaining the GOATs services had better be prepared to bring a dump truck filled with draft capital. Think the three No. 1s the 49ers gave up to get Trey Lance. Just as a buy in to sit at the table. Then the bidding will begin. The Panthers gave up their 1st rounder to get Young. And their 2nd isn't going to get RKK to answer the phone. As every Patriots fan will never forget - and Mr. Kraft is nothing if not a Patriots fan - the last time we got the 33rd pick from Carolina, Belichick took Ras-I Dowling (12 career games) with it. Again, no sale. Even less of a sale. 

So while it's fun to hear Newton's weigh in on this topic, he's looking at it from a Carolina perspective. And that would make him the only one.