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| Photo: Instagram/Cam Newton |
Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton has shared a surprising story from his early career, shedding light on the outlandish request made by Carolina Panthers' signal-caller Jimmy Clausen.
During an interview with "2Cool2Blog," Newton disclosed that Clausen had demanded a staggering one million dollars in exchange for his coveted jersey number. When the Carolina Panthers selected Cam Newton as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Jimmy Clausen was already wearing the No. 2 jersey, the number Newton desired.
In an unexpected turn of events, Clausen insisted that Newton pay a jaw-dropping sum for the right to wear the number he had at Auburn. While it's not uncommon for athletes to negotiate for jersey numbers, the million-dollar price tag demanded by Clausen left Newton in disbelief.
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| Photo: Instagram/Cam Newton |
He recalled the exchange, stating, "He's [Jimmy Clausen] like, 'st, if you want it, you gotta pay for it.' I was like, 'Cool, how much?' He said 'a million.' 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.'"
Newton went on to reveal that Clausen eventually lowered his asking price to $750,000, but the initial demand had already shocked the rookie quarterback. "I said 'Oh, you for real?' I hung that phone up, true story," added Newton. "I called the equipment manager and said I'm rocking with No. 1."
Determined to ensure that Clausen's greed would not overshadow his career with the Panthers, Newton made a personal commitment. "I made an oath to myself," Newton emphasized. "I said that will be the last time Jimmy Clausen will ever be heard of in Carolina."
Despite Jimmy Clausen staying with the Panthers for three more seasons, his on-field performance remained lackluster, with a dismal 1–9 starting record in his rookie season. Following his release from the Panthers, Clausen appeared in nine games for the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Read Next: Kevin Durant Joins Elite NBA 27,000-Point Club
Source: Sports Illustrated
Newton went on to reveal that Clausen eventually lowered his asking price to $750,000, but the initial demand had already shocked the rookie quarterback. "I said 'Oh, you for real?' I hung that phone up, true story," added Newton. "I called the equipment manager and said I'm rocking with No. 1."
Determined to ensure that Clausen's greed would not overshadow his career with the Panthers, Newton made a personal commitment. "I made an oath to myself," Newton emphasized. "I said that will be the last time Jimmy Clausen will ever be heard of in Carolina."
Despite Jimmy Clausen staying with the Panthers for three more seasons, his on-field performance remained lackluster, with a dismal 1–9 starting record in his rookie season. Following his release from the Panthers, Clausen appeared in nine games for the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Read Next: Kevin Durant Joins Elite NBA 27,000-Point Club
Source: Sports Illustrated
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