Cam Newton says his dreadlocks are a cause he isn’t on an NFL roster

Cam Newton just isn’t his 2015 MVP self anymore, however the three-time Professional Bowler says there’s one more reason why he’s nonetheless a free agent.

Through the years, Newton has grown out his hair for dreadlocks, and he means that’s a cause why he remained unsigned all through the 2022 season and continues to be on the lookout for a job.

“It’s been hindered. And I’m not changin’,” he stated on Josina Anderson’s “Undefined” podcast. 

“Folks have hinted in direction of to say like, ‘Cam, we wish you to return to the 2015 clean-cut Cam. However that was a special me. Proper now, the place I’m at, it’s about embracing who I’m.”

The New England Patriots signed him throughout his dreadlocks section, and he began 15 video games for them in 2020. He returned to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and performed in eight video games.

However earlier than rejoining the crew that chosen him with the primary choose in 2011, he stated groups have been insinuating he ought to have gotten a haircut.

“There was hints towards it,” he stated, through Bleacher Report. “And I gained quite a lot of nice counsel from lots of people. And the factor that’s at all times talked about is, ‘Yo, Cam, you scarin’ folks the way in which you look.’ 

“And I might say, ‘Yo, like I’m not gonna title names, however there’s different quarterbacks that’s within the league that don’t seem like me, however they acquired lengthy hair. They don’t scare them, do they?’ So, we will go tit for tat, tat for tit with it. However I might simply flip and nod to that and say, ‘That’s not the rationale why I’m not within the NFL.’”

Newton reportedly turned down a suggestion from at the least one crew final season.

He has stated beforehand he doesn’t plan on chopping his hair till certainly one of his daughters will get married.

Since serving to the 15-1 Panthers to a Tremendous Bowl throughout his MVP season, Newton has gone 30-36 as a starter with an 81.4 quarterback ranking. His final Professional Bowl nod was in 2015.