Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette goes on ESPN to pitch for QB Cam Newton to join him

Tribune Content Agency

Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette made a guest appearance on ESPN’s First Take show Thursday to pitch for quarterback Cam Newton to join him in Jacksonville.

Fournette said he wants the Jaguars to be in the best position going into the 2020 season and there’s no disrespect to Gardner Minshew, the projected starting quarterback.

? I feel like, you know, Cam went to the Super Bowl, you know, he’s a great guy,? Fournette said. ?I’ve been knowing Cam for a minute now. Like I told some people that talked to me, I told them it’s no disrespect to (Gardner) Minshew. I’m just trying to get in the best position as a team so that we can win. That’s all that was about, just a friendly competition, because, you know, that brings out the best in people.”

The Carolina Panthers released Newton after nine seasons last month after they failed to find a trade partner. Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 and led the Carolina to three straight NFC South title from 2013-15. He was the league MVP in 2015 and led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance.

Fournette was asked about the cryptic tweet he wrote Wednesday — how one person destroyed our 2017 AFC championship team but never mentioning the name.

It’s speculated that Fournette was referring to former football executive Tom Coughlin, who was fired in December after the NFL Players Association sent a letter to the league’s players that revealed over 25% of the grievances filed by players had been against the Jaguars.

?Just knowing the fact that we had different caliber guys on our team from Pro Bowlers to going to be Pro Bowlers and how things happen and how it turned out that wasn’t the plan that we thought we had in mind,? Fournette said on First Take in response to the cryptic tweet he posted. ?I don’t say any names but you all have a good guess.?

Asked if it was fair to say someone in the front office,maybe high up in the front office, Fournette response was ‘you can say that.?

The Jaguars will have to make a decision whether to pick upFournette’s fifth-year option, which is $10.1 million, by May 3. Fournette enjoyed a turnaround season in 2019, playing in 15 of 16 games and rushing for 1,152 yards with three touchdowns.

The Jaguars are rebuilding around young players, opting to trade veterans Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye and Nick Foles in exchange for draft picks.

?As for me, timing is everything,? Fournette said about his fifth-year option. ?I don’t really try to fight on about the money right now. Like I said, it’s going to come. It’s all about just having another successful season with my team. Also, just trying to be where I know I can be at to help my guys out to get to the Super Bowl. I think the team is going to be all right.?

Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, who was drafted four spots after Fournette at eighth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, became the highest-paid back in NFL history, with an average of $16 million per year in a four-year extension Monday.

?Congrats to my guy Christian,? Fournette said. ?I’ve been knowing him since college and he deserves every penny that he’s got.?

———

© 2020The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Visit The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) at www.jacksonville.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.