Newton Includes Tua Among QBs He Wants to Back Up (Even Though It's Not Happening)
Cam Newton as Tua Tagovailoa's backup for the Miami Dolphins?
If the former first overall pick had his way, that would be in the cards. Except it's not.
Let's first start with Newton's statement Wednesday that he still believes there are not 32 quarterbacks better than him (and therefore he should be given a starting opportunity) but he's willing to accept a backup role.
But that willingness comes with a caveat, more specifically a list of quarterbacks he'd be comfortable backing up.
And that list include Tagovailoa as the fourth name after Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields.
Newton indicated he had connections with Watson and Fields — as well as Malik Willis and Sam Howell — through his C1N seven-on-seven tournament, and Tagovailoa's trainer, Nick Hicks, indicated on Twitter that Newton and Tagovailoa are friends.
After Tua, Newton's list includes Willis; 2023 draft prospects C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson lumped together; Jalen Hurts; Aaron Rodgers; Josh Allen; and Howell.
DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK POSITION PRETTY SET
Whether Newton gets a contract offer is questionable at this time, though it's just about a lock that it wouldn't come from the Dolphins after the signing of Mike White in free agency.
The Dolphins certainly could add another quarterback before the start of training camp to supplement Tagovailoa, White and 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson, but that player likely would be a rookie free agent or young player brought in as an arm camp more than anything else.
And if the Dolphins somehow found themselves in an emergency situation early in the 2023 season, we certainly would predict they would be on the phone with Tom Brady trying to convince him to play another season long before they would be calling Newton.
Newton was out of the NFL in 2022 after starting five games for the Carolina Panthers the previous season, and one of those starts came against the Dolphins. It was the worst start of his career, as he went 5-for-21 for 92 with no touchdowns, two interceptions and an unsightly 5.8 passer rating.
But that's not the reason his willingness to back up Tua isn't going to materialize. The Dolphins simply don't have a need at the moment.
