The Pittsburgh Steelers are not going to go after Cam Newton, which opens up his chances with this NFL team.
The Newton-to-Steelers rumors opened up after NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt called Newton going to the team “a big win” if it were to happen. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor posted the comments by saying, “here we go again.”
However, it’s not going to happen.
According to Josh Apler of ProFootballTalk, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert did not make any attempt at trying to lure either quarterback to the team. Jameis Winston recently signed with the New Orleans Saints, while Newton remains a free agent after being released by the Carolina Panthers.
“I can honestly say that we absolutely made no negotiation or any offer to any veteran quarterback,” Colbert said.
When Newton was released, according to the odds, the New England Patriots had the fourth-best odds to land him.
Action Network ranked the most likely destinations for the former MVP and No. 1 overall pick. The odds go as follows: Las Vegas Raiders (+1200), Washington Redskins (+750), Denver Broncos (+750), New England Patriots (+500), Los Angeles Chargers (+350), Jacksonville Jaguars (+250), and Miami Dolphins (+200).
That was posted about a month ago. Since then, we know that the Dolphins drafted Tua Tagovailo, while the Chargers drafted Justin Herbert. The Raiders signed Marcus Mariotta and appear to be content with Derek Carr.
That leaves the Redskins, Broncos, Patriots, and Jaguars as his best shots.
The real question is if Newton’s personality could coexist with Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Scott Pioli, who won three Super Bowls for Belichick, believes that this relationship would be difficult to sustain.
“The Patriots thing is interesting because I’ve heard a lot of people talk about that,” Pioli said in an appearance with Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio. “And in my mind, having spent as much time with Bill as I did, I don’t see those two coexisting together. . . . The personalities and the beliefs of how the game should be played and is played . . . it seems like oil and water. Now as soon as I say that, what’s gonna happen next week is they’ll probably sign him.
Newton led the Panthers to a Super Bowl, but Pioli sees Newton’s personality being too much of a distraction.
“But I just see them as being very different personalities and having very different approaches to the game. Bill understands — he believes in football more than entertainment. Cam believes that football and entertainment are almost equal partners. In which this day it is, but Bill has the soul of a football man and I couldn’t see that one working out too well. And if it did it would have to be for probably one season.”
His health and personality could be the biggest factors for why he remains unsigned