The Chicago Bears have come under fire for their decisions about the quarterback position yet again.
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New Patriots quarterback Cam Newton
When NFL analyst Adam Schefter broke the news that the New England Patriots signed veteran quarterback Cam Newton to a one-year deal, Twitter, of course, lost its collective mind. Many current and former players congratulated Newton, and some fans and analysts sharing the obligatory Bill Belichick meme or two.
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton has reached agreement on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the New England Patriots, league sources tell @mortreport and me.
Newton now will step into the mix to try to help replace former Patriots’ QB Tom Brady.
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 28, 2020
Couldn’t be happier for @CameronNewton! Patriots are getting a stud!! ????????????
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) June 29, 2020
Bill Belichick just signed Cam Newton.
COMING FOR THE AFC EAST pic.twitter.com/v9YGMMXFI9
— SAVAGE BOSTON???? (@SavageBoston) June 29, 2020
Amidst all the reactions, another theme began to pop up with a bit less frequency: the Chicago Bears started to get heat for choosing to sign Nick Foles instead of Cam Newton.
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The Bears, like all 31 other teams in the league, had the chance to snag the talents of former MVP Newton. Instead, they chose to play it safe and pay more for it. Chicago sent a fourth-round draft pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for veteran Nick Foles. They signed the Super Bowl MVP to a three-year, $24 million contract with $17 million guaranteed, per Over the Cap.
The Patriots, meanwhile, waited it out, and will reportedly pay Newton $1.1 million with possible incentives, which could take his contract up to a max of $7.5 million. Seeing the bargain the Pats got, many fans and analysts jumped on the Bears and GM Ryan Pace for choosing Foles over Newton.
Trading for Nick Foles and letting Bill Belichick get Cam Newton in June ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Making Marcus Mariota highest-paid backup in the league and letting Bill Belichick get Cam Newton in June ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) June 29, 2020
Imagine trading for Nick Foles (3-year/$24 million) with Cam Newton hanging around for an incentive-driven,1-year deal.
Nope. Can’t think of anyone who’d do that. pic.twitter.com/UUA4LUymQt
— Eli Hershkovich (@EliHershkovich) June 29, 2020
There are a lot of factors to consider, and I know that framing it like this lacks nuance, but:
The Bears traded a fourth-round pick for Nick Foles and will pay him about $20 million in guarantees.
