The Facts: Following up on the ongoing story. ... Per a source with knowledge of the contract, Bridgewater’s three-year deal with the Panthers pays out $63 million. Of that amount, $33 million is fully guaranteed. That’s $21 million per year, the figured cited here on Monday when Bridgewater originally was linked to the Bears.

Diehards Line: A first-round pick of the Vikings in 2014, Bridgewater was poised to break out in 2016 before a freak knee injury wiped him out for all of that season and the next. He has served the last two seasons as a backup to Drew Brees, going 5-0 as a starter in 2019. The financial commitment to Bridgewater makes it obvious that the Panthers won’t be keeping long-time starter Cam Newton. If they can’t trade Newton (and they’ll have a hard time doing that, given his next team’s inability to give him a meaningful physical), he’ll likely be released. ... We'll follow up as needed.