Cam Newton to Replace Sam Darnold for the Panthers?

Cam Newton is back in Carolina.

The former MVP agreed to a contract with the Panthers: the one-year deal is worth up to $10 million with $4.5 million guaranteed and a $1.5 million roster bonus, according to multiple reports.

Newton, whom the Panthers selected No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, has been unsigned this year since the Patriots cut him in training camp. He didn’t do much last year with the Patriots, throwing for 2,657 yards and rushing for 592 as the team struggled to adjust to life without Tom Brady.

The Panthers, though, have struggled to adjust to life without Newton.

Sam Darnold isn’t the answer at quarterback. The former Jet, for whom the Panthers dealt a second-round pick and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a shoulder injury, has thrown 11 interceptions to seven touchdowns. He’s averaging just 6.5 yards per attempt. PJ Walker was in line to be Carolina’s starter before the Newton reunion.

50th New York City Marathon Brings Out 30,000 Entrants

On Sunday, the 50th New York City Marathon brought out 30,000 entrants — down 40 percent from the usual 50,000, thanks to COVID — and the thousands of spectators who turned out to cheer the runners on.

“To me, it just shows the power of the city itself,” Bruna Martins, who ran the marathon for the third time, told The New York Times. “This year, after everything we’ve been through, if anything, people are just going to be really excited out there.”

Another great sign: Billy Joel returned Friday night as Madison Square Garden’s resident Piano Man after 21 months away.

“Sorry that we shut everything down,” Joel told the crowd, “but we’re back.”

NY Giants Beat Las Vegas Raiders 23-16

Putting aside the distractions of numerous false-positive COVID tests, late schedule changes, and players going on and off the reserve list, the Giants rode an opportunistic defense, Graham Gano’s reliable leg, and just enough offense to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders, 23-16, in MetLife Stadium.

The Giants won for the second time in three weeks and improved to 3-6 entering their bye.

On Monday, they lost a winnable game in Kansas City, 20-17. Two days later, 13 positive tests from Tuesday forced practice to be pushed back. When the testing uncertainty continued Thursday, the players were sent home for Zoom meetings only to return for practice. Saquon Barkley, Xavier McKinney and Gary Brightwell were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Through all the news bulletins and updates, coach Joe Judge emphasized to his players and coaches they had to maintain their normal preparation and focus.