Cam Newton, a free agent QB, who recently offered his price to join the Jets, has made headlines with a surprising revelation about a peculiar encounter from his early NFL days. Before he entered the league, Newton found himself in a rather unusual situation involving his fellow player, Jimmy Clausen.
This account sheds light on an audacious demand made by Clausen when Newton was a rookie, navigating the intricate world of professional football.
Cam Newton recalls Jimmy Clausen’s million-dollar demand
In a recent interview with 2COOL2BLOG, the 34-year-old shared that before he was drafted, Jimmy Clausen got the No. 2 jersey that he wanted.
Clausen knew that Cam Newton wanted to have this number, so he tried to take advantage of the situation by demanding $1 million from the former QB when he asked him for the jersey.
“He’s [Jimmy Clausen] like, ‘s**t, if you want it, you gotta pay for it.’ I was like, ‘Cool, how much?’ He said ‘a million,” said Newton.
Newton shared that he was shocked to find out the price Clausen was demanding but he told him straight away that he won’t pay this big amount just for a Jersey number.
“I said ‘Boy, kiss my a**, a million dollars, bro? People don’t make a million dollars in a lifetime, let alone I’m gonna give you a million dollars just for a number.’”
The former QB added that he realized that Clausen wasn’t joking and was serious about getting this big amount when he tried to negotiate the price. Clausen then offered him the jersey for $750,000. Newton hung up the call and agreed to have the No. 1 jersey, which he initially got.
“I said ‘Oh, you for real?’ I hung that phone up, true story. I called the equipment manager and said I’m rocking with No. 1.”
Cam Newton said that on that day he took an oath that he would not let Clausen stay in Carolina and this is what happened. Jimmy Clausen only played for three seasons with the Panthers and was released after having a poor starting record of 1-9.
How long has Newton been in NFL?
Cam Newton played in the NFL for 11 years. As a rookie, he set records for rushing and passing yards and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
He was the first rookie QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a season and achieved this milestone in his NFL debut.
In 2015, he was named the NFL Most Valuable Player and led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. He last played in the NFL in the 2021 season with the Carolina Panthers.
He has not officially retired and expressed his willingness to play again if the right opportunity arises. Therefore, when Aaron Rodgers got injured the possibility arose for the 34-year-old to join the Jets but unfortuantely that couldn’t happen.
Despite not being the same player as Cam Newton was in 2015, his unique skills and athleticism could still make him a valuable asset to an NFL team. But what do you think? Do let us know in the comments section.
