Cam Newton Denies Requesting Trade from Panthers: 'I Never Asked for It'

The divorce between the Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton is getting messy. 

On Tuesday, the Panthers announced they were giving Newton permission to seek a trade. But Newton responded by saying he never wanted to leave the Panthers and was being forced out:

Newton, 30, has spent his entire career with the Panthers, winning NFL MVP in 2015, and leading the team to the playoffs four times and the Super Bowl in the 2015 season. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, was a 2015 first-team All-Pro selection and was the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

But injuries have started to take their toll. Newton has had a series of surgeries on his shoulder throughout his career, affecting his arm strength. He played in just two games in 2019 because of a Lisfranc injury in his left foot. And he hasn't replicated the magic of the 2015 season (3,837 yards, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 636 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns).

Still, Newton was the face of the franchise for the past nine years, and his impending departure—along with the retirement of star linebacker Luke Kuechly in January—has ushered in a new era for the Panthers, as running back Christian McCaffrey serves as the face of the rebuild. 

It appears the Panthers aren't wasting time in identifying Newton's successor, either, with multiple reports emerging Tuesday that the team will sign Teddy Bridgewater:

Bridgewater is a far different quarterback than Newton, and the Panthers appear to be moving in a new direction under first-year head coach Matt Rhule. Based on Newton's comments Tuesday, it was a decision the team made without him.