Panthers GM Dave Gettleman opening statement:
“Guys, a lot of hard work went into getting this deal done. First and foremost, I want to thank Mr. Richardson for giving us the ability and the resources to get this done. The next group of people I’d like to thank is [Director of Team Administration] Rob Rogers, [Director of Pro Scouting] Mark Koncz and [Director of Football Operations] Brandon Beane for all the hard work they put in. Also I would like to thank Cam’s agents, Bus [Cook] and Tony [Paige] for working with us and getting this to the right conclusion.”
Panthers head coach Ron Rivera opening statement:
(pauses) “Seven seconds, just wanted to make sure. I’m really excited about this. I think it’s a heck of an opportunity going forward. We wanted to make sure Cam understood we were showing a commitment to him, and as we go forward, it does kind of increase the bond that Cam and I have, him being our first draft pick in 2011. So this will further as we go forward as a football team, as he and I continue to work together. I’m excited about what the future could hold for us.”
Gettleman on comparing Newton’s contract with Matt Ryan’s:
“I’m not going to talk numbers, but we signed a deal that obviously both sides feel very comfortable about and are very excited about.”
Gettleman on timing of Ryan Tannehill’s deal:
“It took us 11 days to get a deal done. We sent our proposal to Bus and those guys, I think four or five days before Tannehill got done. It was an 11-day process.”
Gettleman on team’s financial standing:
“The biggest thing it does for us, it gives us a fixed cost, and you know what you’re dealing with. We’ve been very intentional and thoughtful about how we’ve been spending our money, and we’ll continue to do that. We’ve been planning for this. I told you guys when I first walked in the door, after my seven-second pregnant pause, that I felt he was a franchise quarterback. Nothing changed. The bottom line is, we just kept working the numbers, and like I said, we’ve been very intentional and thoughtful about getting this deal done and how it would fit in our financial planning so that we can continue to build this team right. And this is what that does.”
Gettleman on Newton’s 2015 season:
“It just cemented what I felt, is really where it is. If you think of all the things he went through, this team went through last year, it just cemented the way I felt. He’s gifted, he’s a worker, it’s important to him. That’s why we did this deal. We believe he’ll take us to the promised land.”
Gettleman on getting deal done before training camp:
“It was important because you don’t want distractions. I’ve seen teams negotiate with players in season, and more often than not, it’s not good. You really need the unique player to do a deal in-season, and for him to maintain his focus during that season.”
Gettleman on why he believes Newton can win a Super Bowl:
“Because he keeps getting better, he makes plays under pressure, he won his first playoff game. Cam’s growing; we’re growing. We’re growing as a team. We’ve got a really young group around here. We’ve got our six or seven older guys that obviously count on, but this is a younger team, and it’s growing with him. He continues to ascend, and I still think there’s plenty of room left.”
Rivera on getting deal done before training camp:
“The focus obviously once you get to training camp, and as the season starts, is really on winning football games. That’s one of the things this really does for us. The decision to get this done now and not worry about it, and be able to focus on some other things is really important. I think the thing Dave talked about, this is a young football team, and this is a big part of why we’ve been able to do the things that we’ve done. We’ve had so many young players that have played for us. We’ve been very fortunate with the draft picks we’ve had. Starting with Cam and then Luke [Kuechly] and KK [Kawann Short] and Star [Lotulelei] as a tandem and then last year with Kelvin [Benjamin]. As we continue to bring young players into the mix and into the fold, the veteran guys that are coming up, we’ll be able to take care of which I really do appreciate Dave and his staff looking in that direction. I think we’re setting ourselves up to be in a good position as we go into training camp that we can most certainly limit those types of distractions.”
Rivera on if Newton’s leadership role will change:
“No. Who he is and what he is for us is exactly what we want. He’s getting paid this money not to be something that he’s not, he’s being paid for what we believe he is, and that’s our franchise quarterback. That’s what we expect of him. We expect him to continue in that vein. We expect him to continue to be that guy on the football field that guys rally behind. I’m like Dave; I’m very confident in his ability and I’m very confident in the fact that we believe he’s going to take us, as Dave said, to the promised land.”
Rivera on if it will be a disappointment if the Panthers don’t win a Super Bowl with Newton:
“Personally it would be disappointing whether it has anything to do with money or not. We all have goals, we all have a vision. The vision obviously is to win. Whether it’s with a quarterback that is the highest paid in franchise history or not, whether you do or don’t, to me it’s got nothing to do with the money, it’s got everything to do with what our expectations are and what that vision is, and that’s to win.”
Rivera on when he knew Newton was his franchise quarterback:
“Day one. I’ve said it, guys I’m not wavering on this. This is who I’ve bought into; this is who I believe in. This is the way I’ve always been. I’ve said it to you guys before, as long as I’m here, he’s the guy that I believe is going to take me where I want to be.”
“I don’t even know where to begin. First off, I would like to thank Mr. Richardson, wow, for giving me this opportunity. As well as, Mr. Gettleman and Coach Rivera, his staff, for everything that they have done up unto this point. I can’t state this enough that this doesn’t change anything as far as the preparation, the goals, the dreams, the aspirations, the work ethic, the anything. For me, if anything, it accelerates it and puts more drive for it. I’m so thankful for so many things. So thankful for an unbelievable supporting cast from my agents, family, friends and loved ones that throughout these four years in the NFL have given me so much to look back and appreciate but yet so much to yearn for and be even more hungry for. What better place than Carolina right now? I think we have the luxury of being one of the few teams I can say that represents not only one state, but two states; South Carolina, as well as North Carolina. With this new fan club I’m hearing about, the Roaring Riot, I’m expecting big things for years to come and in the games we play this season.”
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“It means a lot. It means so much. Forgive me because so much feeling is going through right now. It is not necessarily settled in for me. I am so grateful and thankful for this opportunity and so much that I have been through this past year let alone my whole career. I live my life not only for myself but also to inspire others. For that young kid that may be looking at this interview, for that kid that is in high school or college that is facing adversity, there is hope. There is hope, and so many times in my life I questioned if this was really what I wanted to do. Am I really good enough to play in the NFL? Am I good enough to have everything that I dreamed for? I can honestly say that with hard work and dedication and with an unbelievable supporting cast, you can get there.”
On what was important to him in negotiations:
“First off, I did not want to be no distraction. I think I made it clear to Mr. Gettleman as well as coach Rivera. I did not want it to be about me. I pay good money, I feel like, to guys that make this part easy for me. That’s my agents. Big shout out; my hat goes off to Bus Cook of Bus Cook Sports and Tony Paige and Chitta Mallik of Perennial Sports for making this whole process a reality now. With doing that, here we are.”
On why being a distraction is so important to him
“It is extremely important. For me, I’m focused. There’s things that I want and things that I know this team has to be driven in places. Without having a quarterback on site, that is going to be kind of hard. For me, my main focus is trying to bring the Lombardi Trophy to the Carolinas by any means necessarily. With me being selfish and thinking about myself, that was not going to happen.”
On if more money means more pressure:
“Absolutely not. I think playing the quarterback position in the NFL is enough pressure as it is, and I am looking forward to this upcoming season.”
On if he can get the Panthers to the “promised land”
“I feel like I can get them there as well. They are not saying anything that I do not feel about myself. With them solidifying that, it puts more comfort in my heart just to know that I have guys on board that’s willing to do anything to win as well as myself.”
On being one of the league’s top-paid quarterbacks:
“I have never been the type to compare and contrast wages. More so, comparing and contrast the most important stat in all of sports and that’s wins and losses. I know I am nowhere where I want to be right now, but that gives me even more drive to get to where I want to be, sooner rather than later. That starts out by maximizing each and every opportunity I get to work on my craft throughout this OTA period, throughout training camp, as well as preseason leading up into the season.”
On if he ever thought he’d sign a contract worth more than $100 million:
“Absolutely not. That’s what I am saying. For a person to come from Atlanta, Georgia. For people who know of College Park, that don’t happen. I’m not saying that to brag. I’m more saying it to say that if I can do it, I promise you any person that puts their mind to it can pretty much do it.”
On Jerry Richardson’s role in contract:
“Mr. Richardson has been so influential in this to say the least. I can’t thank him enough. He’s been an unbelievable owner for us. He’s been an unbelievable father figure to us. He’s been an unbelievable businessman for us. He’s been an unbelievable friend to me. To be that ear to listen to when I’m not in the best of moods or to sit down and talk. He’s never too busy. With a man of his magnitude, you would think otherwise. He is extremely humble. He is a person that I know I can trust has my best interest. When you know that, that makes you want to go out and play even harder for a person like that.”
On whether he met with Richardson during negotiations:
“I did meet with him along with other people. Yet, I don’t think that was neither here nor there as far as the negotiation process. It wasn’t anything abnormal about our meetings outside of a normal checkup so to speak.”
On how involved he was throughout negotiations:
“I really didn’t care because I knew that my agents, that’s their job. My job is to try to put up as many wins as possible and to get the job done on the field. It says, “Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton” not “Carolina Panthers agent-quarterback.” Nah, that’s not me. I’m going to still focus and be steadfast to try to conquer each and every goal that’s out there for the Carolina Panthers to achieve.”
On why he’s wanted to make sure he stays in Carolina:
“Why not? So much of Carolina feels the same way that I feel. When I walk around uptown or when I go to places in Carolina whether to eat or what not, everybody is yearning for wins. I’m yearning for wins. This team is yearning for wins. And when you’ve got a fan base that’s built off of a yearning for something, it’s going to come soon to pass. I know, and other players on this team know that it’s not going to be given to us, and it’s just going to make it even sweeter when we do conquer our goals.”
On if contract means he’ll have to change the way he plays:
“Nothing about this contract changes my approach to this game. I’m going to still be the person who is willing to win at all costs, but I have to understand what I mean to this team. We always have talks – coach Rivera and myself as well as Mr. Gettleman – about playing smart and being smart when I’m on the field. I think I’ve done a great job to this point, but I will be more mindful of the hits that I take when running and make this process go smoother.”
On how much teammates meant to get him to this point:
“I would be a fool to think if at this point today I got here by myself. And I don’t think that by any means. I can’t thank enough people enough throughout this whole process. And this process didn’t just start a year ago. This process didn’t start two to three to even four years ago. This process started way back when I was getting help or assistance from coaches back in high school, getting coaches back in rec ball, having long talks with my father, having long talks with my mom, them instilling great morals for me that I still stay true to today. For me to have so much of the love from other people to assist me along the way has gotten me to this point.”
On what he will spend some of the money on:
“The question was asked, what am I planning on doing with celebrating? I’m going to pop a couple of milk carton bottles, Lucky Charms, a little bit of Cinnamon Toast Crunch added and get ready for practice tomorrow.”
On how relieved he is to go into the season with his contract done
“I think you guys were making more of a big deal about it than I was, but with me inking everything and finalizing everything, it just makes this whole process even easier for me. Knowing that I don’t have to go into training camp having to answer these types of questions or going into the season having to answer these questions. I keep reverting back to the same thing; I’m thankful that this opportunity came, and it’s over and done with. Now that I can focus on playing football and getting the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl puts me somewhat in cruise control at the moment, but yet, me understanding that so much is going to be expected of me.”
On offseason additions:
“Everybody is right where I’m expecting them to be, we’re expecting them to be, they’re expecting to be. There’s competition everywhere. There’s a lot of guys that’s making each other better and when you come into an environment like that – that competitive environment – you can’t do nothing but get better. The defense is always challenging the offense in practice. The receiver position is competing for a spot each and every day to prove their worth. I’m trying to put people at ease to prove my worth and with that mentality everybody’s getting better along the way. Coach Rivera has done an unbelievable job in creating a competition practice, so to speak, where every day we have something to look forward to, whether it’s battling for first downs on third down or short yardage, or even two minute. It’s great to be a part of, and I’m expecting a lot of people, including myself, to get better.”