Cam Newton Wasn't Going To Pay $1 Million For Number

Published on November 7th, 2023 5:50 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


It's common practice that if a high-profile new addition to a team wants a number that is already taken by someone, they will pay them for it.

Quite often, players will just give up their numbers for free, thankful that a talented new player is joining the team.

Less often, there will be token gifts of appreciation, such as a new watch or a pair of sunglasses.

In rarer cases, money changes hands between the two players.

If you want my number, you'll have to pay for it.

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Cam Newton wore #2 while playing in college, and he wanted to keep wearing the #2 in the NFL.

The only problem?

Jimmy Clausen, who was the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback when Cam Newton was drafted in 2011, wore the #2.

Jimmy wasn't dumb - the Panthers took Newton with the first overall pick, so Clausen's days as the starting quarterback of the Panthers were numbered.

For that reason, Clausen thought that he would tax Newton for the number.

After all, Newton was about to cash in with a big rookie contract, so he had the money.

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Clausen said to Cam Newton before the season started - if you want the #2, it'll cost you $1 million.

Cam, as relayed in an interview earlier this week, thought that Clausen was joking. Cam said - no way.

A few days later, Clausen came back with a counteroffer - $750,000.

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Cam Newton says that he hung up the phone on Clausen upon hearing of the counteroffer, as he then knew that Clausen was serious.

$750,000 for a number?

Not only did Cam say that he would wear the #1 instead, but he promised to bury Jimmy Clausen in Carolina.

Cam certainly delivered, as Clausen would never take another snap for the Panthers in a regular season game again.

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Switching numbers certainly didn't have an impact on Newton, as he won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011 and became one of the most dominant players in the game.