Cam Newton is hoping to learn what to do in his contract renegotiation with the Carolina Panthers. He already has seen what not to do.
The Charlotte Observer is reporting that representatives for the Panthers' starting quarterback, who completed his fourth year in 2014, were scheduled to meet with the team about a new deal. Newton is scheduled to make $14.7 million in 2015 after the Panthers picked up the option on his fifth year.
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No news has developed as a result of those scheduled talks, but the Observer reported that Newton was content to wait until two other big-name quarterback - the Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck and the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson - negotiate their deals.
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The two are thought to be headed for lucrative contracts, which would then set the market for Newton. There had been a possibility for a big contract with a big-name quarterback last season, but that deal turned out to be one of the most cap-friendly deals for the franchise in quite some time.
Colin Kaepernick last summer signed a seven-year, $126 million contract to remain with the San Francisco 49ers. The numbers sound good at $18 million annually - except that it could end up being nothing close to the $126 million when it's all said and done.
Only the first year of Kaepernick's contract was guaranteed. The 49ers can choose to cut him before April 1 of any year and not owe him one more cent. Also, Kaepernick lost $2 million off his 2015 salary because he did not compete two of three incentives that would have kicked in the $2 million.
Kaepernick took 80 percent of his team's snaps, but he did not guide the team to the Super Bowl or earn All-Pro honors.
Newton took note of that.
"Newton's representatives are not interested in any deal resembling the one received by San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick last year," the Observer reported. "Kaepernick's contract includes de-escalators that decrease his compensation by $2 million a year following any season in which the 49ers don't make it to the Super Bowl or Kaepernick is not an All-Pro. Newton wants more guaranteed money, sources say."
ESPN reported in January that the Colts are working on a deal with Luck that could be worth $25 million annually. Wilson, meanwhile could be the first quarterback to earn a fully guaranteed contract, according to NFL.com.
Newton was an All-Pro his first three seasons and guided Carolina to back-to-back playoff berths for the first time in franchise history.
Players can officially sign contracts on March 10.
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