Cam Newton, in the second to last year of his rookie contract, is in line for a pretty big new payday from the Carolina Panthers, but he doesn't want the team looking to the San Francisco 49ers and Colin Kaepernick for a blueprint on getting a deal done, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, via Dan Hanzus.
Kaepernick's contract - which includes only $13 million in guaranteed money - "really scares people who know Cam Newton very well," Rapoport reported.
"The structure of Kaepernick's deal essentially allows the Niners to evaluate the quarterback on a year-to-year basis," writes Hanzus. "There is a fear in Newton's circle that Kaepernick's deal is a sign of things to come in how teams do business with franchise quarterbacks."
Guaranteed money is a very important factor for Newton, Rapoport also reports. He wants a contract with more guaranteed money and a higher yearly salary than Kaepernick.
Kaepernick's deal was originally reported as a six-year deal worth $126 million, with $61 million guaranteed. Those numbers were almost immediately debunked though, and the reality of the extremely team-friendly deal - that $13 million guarantee - apparently scares Newton and his camp.
Newton, the number one overall pick in the 2011 draft, has developed nicely over his three-plus years in the league. For his career, he has just over 13,000 yards passing with 72 touchdowns, 2,289 yards rushing for 30 touchdowns and a career rating of 85.7, per NFL.com.
He'll most likely never be a pass first, pocket QB, but he's developed in that area while maintaining his speed and athleticism. He's also grown as a leader after the team shipped out former Panther stalwart and irksome troublemaker, wide receiver Steve Smith, this offseason.
Talks between the two sides have apparently yet to begin, but per Rapoport, Carolina has made it clear that Newton is their franchise quarterback moving forward.
