Newton left meeting with new staff 'inspired'

Cam Newton is putting any rumors claiming he won't be back with the Carolina Panthers for the 2020 season to bed.

Newton insisted he "absolutely" will not be moved despite the Panthers hiring Matt Rhule and a new coaching staff during an appearance on "Tiki and Tierney."

"I had an unbelievable conversation with Marty Hurney, GM, David Tepper, the owner, as well as coach Rhule, the new head coach," he said. "And I left that meeting inspired. I told them, I said, 'you won't find another person in that locker room with more to prove, not only to you but I've gotta prove to myself.'"

Newton, 30, played in just two games in 2019 due to a foot injury that forced him to finish the campaign on injured reserve.

The former league MVP has one year left on his contract and is set to become a free agent in 2021. He's scheduled to earn a base salary of $18.6 million in 2020 with a cap hit of $21.1 million. Newton's deal includes only $2 million in dead cap and offers $19.1 million in potential cap savings if Carolina cuts or trades him.

The Panthers started Kyle Allen (12 games) and rookie Will Grier (two games) at quarterback in 2019.