Matt Rhule said during a conference call on Wednesday that the "best thing for our team" was for the Carolina Panthers to move on from Cam Newton and add Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback.

Rhule indicated the decision had less to do with Newton's health and more to do with Bridgewater being a better fit for what offensive coordinator Joe Brady wants to accomplish.

Newton underwent foot surgery in December and last month was cleared medically.

"I have no doubt that he will play well," Rhule said of Newton. "He is a great quarterback, and we have all seen the things that he has done. I just think as we move forward, we thought this was the right time for us. We saw the opportunity to get Teddy and really felt like he was the right fit for us.

"We went ahead and made that call, not an easy call, but one we thought was the best one moving forward.''