Cam Newton wasn’t just surprised to see Philip Rivers return to the NFL this week. He was livid.
The 2015 NFL MVP said on Wednesday’s episode of “4th&1 With Cam Newton” that Rivers, 44, getting the call to join the Colts over him was “almost like a slap in my face.”
“I’m not even going to lie,” Newton, 36, said.
Newton said on the show that while he hasn’t explicitly expressed to general managers he’s open to a comeback, he’s made it known all the signs were there if they looked hard enough.
Newton said his Snapchat had clues, and him never formally filing for retirement offered a big hint as well. He added that he shouldn’t even have to advertise his availability, considering Rivers never went that route on his way to his new gig.
“Did Philip Rivers send any type of signs that he was available?” Newton said. “Why are you asking me to do something that everybody else didn’t do?
“I ain’t no sucker. I ain’t no lab rat. Come on, bro.”
Rivers officially inked a deal with Indianapolis on Wednesday despite not logging a snap since the 2020 season. His familiarity with Colts head coach Shane Steichen was cited as the main reason for the team’s surprise addition, but Newton said none of that should be why he didn’t get his own opportunity to make a comeback.
“I don’t give a damn if he was in their family,” Newton said. “He’s 44 years old, bro.”
Newton, 36, eventually theorized all the media attention he’d bring was the reason the Colts went a different direction.
“The personality, bro,” he said. “The folks don’t want a Shedeur [Sanders] situation. They don’t want a circus.”
In addition to missing another chance to live out his dream, the signing means Newton lost the possibility of a solid payday as well. Rivers, if activated to the Colts’ 53-man roster, could make at least $73,800 per game, and perhaps even more depending on signing bonuses and incentives.
It’s still unclear if Rivers — who’s on the Colts’ practice squad availability — will play in Indianapolis’ road game Sunday against the Seahawks.
