Cam Newton didn’t just lose his starting QB spot to Mac Jones, he also lost his roster spot too.
The league’s MVP in the 2015 season was cut from the Patriots in the most shocking move of roster cuts as they came down to the final roster cuts to 53 players before Tuesday’s 4 PM deadline. Jones, who was showing out during the preseason, won the starting job.
However, Newton missed three days of practice because of what the team said was a “misunderstanding” in regard to COVID protocols after a team-approved medical appointment outside of the area. With his absence, Jones got more first-team snaps.
His ups and downs last season were a display of the NFL’s struggles to play during the COVID pandemic. He tested positive for the virus early in the season, missing one game and forcing the NFL to move the Pats’ game against the Chiefs to a Monday after Newton tested positive. Before that game, the Pats flew to Kansas City in two planes, one for players and staff who were exposed to Newton and one for everyone else.
He acknowledged that contracting COVID affected him during the Pats’ 7-9 campaign last season. After the season, Newton said that his time away from the team was so soon after arriving had made it harder for him to learn the playbook.
Former Patriot Rob Ninkovich pointed that last point out, telling the Providence Journal, “From everything that I understand now, Mac was basically helping Cam learn the playbook. Mac was having less mental errors and having a better understanding of the offense. We didn’t see Cam run any two-minute [drill], we didn’t see him run any no-huddle. You have to run no-huddle. That’s vital.”
Outside of his struggles with the playbook, his vaccination status and his attitude sealed his fate. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk added:
The source believes that a bunch of former Patriots players [such as Ninkovich] had a hard time with Tom Brady leaving and Cam Newton replacing Brady. Also, pointing to potential red herrings like playbook issues or distractions from music being played at practice cover up the basic truth. Cam was the starter until he failed to comply with a fairly basic aspect of the rule applicable to unvaccinated players. Thus, the decision to make him not the starter flowed directly from his vaccination status and the ever-present possibility that he won’t be available to play or to practice.
During training camp heading into 2021, he declined to say on whether or not he got a vaccine, saying that it was too personal of an issue to openly discuss. However, after he had a medical appointment, he went through a five-day process to rejoin the team that applies only to unvaccinated players.
The NFL says that unvaccinated players must be tested every day for the virus, as opposed to one week for vaccinated players, and they cannot go around the team facility or mix with teammates as freely as vaccinated players.
The former league MVP took to Instagram to say, “I really appreciate all the love and support during this time but I must say … Please don’t feel sorry for me!! I’m good.”
Jones, on the other hand, showed poise, precision, and his ability to rebound from bad passes, series, and practices. That was shown when he was in Alabama, and it has carried on over with the Pats. With him, he looked like a perfect fit on Josh McDaniels’ offense, which requires quick thinking, a quick trigger, and precision accuracy. His ability to calmly run the two-minute offense during the preseason was impressive too.
That’s not to say that Newton didn’t perform well, as he flashed the arm strength and the willingness to strike downfield that he had rarely shown in recent years. But the writing was on the wall, and Newton, who went out of his way to support Jones, saw it too.
A rookie quarterback taken in the first round is bound to start sooner rather than later in the NFL, regardless of the team drafting him. Newton was basically making backup-level money on two one-year deals with the Pats, the first one being $1M and the other being $3.6M.
Besides, the Pats weren’t going to be the San Francisco 49ers of the AFC East, where, in that case, Newton and Jones would be exchanging starts and alternating snaps. If Bill Belichick banked in on Jones, where playing style skews more towards Tom Brady than it does towards Newton, then it didn’t make sense to have a backup to have a totally different approach, so, it may make sense on why it may be easier for them to have Brian Hoyer or Garrett Gilbert in their game plans and offensive concepts that will let Jones grow as a player.
The question is if they can play at the same level that Newton has. Had Newton not got cut, he could have been used on a backup role with the Pats. He completed 67% of his passes in the preseason. Jones completed 70% and is showing signs that he’s the real deal. That’s two top guns in New England. In other words, strength in depth. But if Jones falters or gets injured, Newton could have filled in and taken over effectively.
Now that Newton is gone, the fact that Hoyer and Gilbert are on the roster raises questions on if they can take over as effectively as the 32-year-old former league MVP. Chances are, no.
If Jones stays healthy, there is no doubt that he can light up the league. It will take a few games, but it seems that the talent is there. If he gets hurt, the season could be lost. And Belichick will be looking at himself on a mirror regretting about cutting Newton.
And don’t forget that Newton, showed this offseason that he can still perform at the NFL level. Yes, he is six seasons removed from his 2015 MVP campaign with the Panthers, but his right arm looks as live as it has been since undergoing multiple shoulder surgeries since that MVP season.
Although he has been through heavy pressure before, he still remains a lethal dual-threat QB. He threw for 8 touchdowns in the 2020 season, but let’s not forget that he showed promise early on before contracting COVID. He still ran for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns.
All in all, he can still play. And whether or not you like his on- and off-the-field personality, Belichick has praised him since he first signed with the Pats in 2020. With that said, it all leads to this question: Which teams should go after Newton?
Atlanta Falcons
This is interesting because Matt Ryan was the MVP the season after Newton won MVP. Ryan is the guy in Atlanta for now, but the backup QB situation is unsettled, as well as Ryan’s future with the team depending on which way the Falcons want to go under Arthur Smith. Should the Falcons sign Newton, it allows him to play for his hometown, and it could allow him to get the foot on the door if they want to trade Ryan and rebuild. Playing in a run-heavy, double-tight offense would suit Newton as well.
Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Huntley is a nice backup quarterback with the Ravens for Lamar Jackson, as evidenced by his four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown during the Ravens’ 37-3 preseason rout against Washington. However, he is unproven for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations and with Lamar Jackson, who already has two bouts with COVID, and, as far as we know, like Newton, remains unvaccinated. Although Newton would prefer another opportunity to start, he would be a much better fallback than Huntley, Trace McSorley, or their previous backup QB, Robert Griffin III, for a team that wants to get the air attack going more and more but has thrived with a run-based approach that goes well with Newton.
(Possibly) Buffalo Bills
The Bills are another championship caliber team with COVID issues. That makes you ponder if Newton is a good insurance policy or not, which is worthy of debate. They have the reigning NVP, Mitch Trubisky, who was lights out in his return to Chicago, on a one-year deal behind 2020 MVP runner-up Josh Allen. Allen is often compared to a younger version of Newton, and the Bills have several former members of the Panthers, namely head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, who were with Newton during his peak in Carolina. This isn’t really a perfect fit, but one that neither party should rule out.
Dallas Cowboys
While Auburn fans won’t want to see Newton in a backup role, this may be the best case for him. Him going to the Cowboys means that Mississippi State fans win the bragging rights because Dak Prescott is the team’s starter. Should Newton sign with the Cowboys, he will join a team with the most talented skill position trio of his career in Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott, and CeeDee Lamb. Widely favored as NFC East favorites heading into the season, the offseason has been unsettling for the Cowboys as they manage Prescott’s throwing shoulder while hoping his surgically repaired ankle is ready for the regular season. But if Prescott suffers setbacks on either side or shows during the NFL Kickoff Game that he is still a few weeks away from being 100%, would you rather have Newton fill in, or hope that the untested Cooper Rush can keep the team afloat?
Denver Broncos
A loaded Broncos roster practically went on standby for months waiting to learn whether game manager Teddy Bridgewater would be their QB or the young gunslinger, Drew Lock. Bridgewater won the starting QB spot—for now—but his name is penciled onto the depth chart. If, by October, the Broncos continue to be plagued by poor quarterback play, Newton should be a reasonable option, even if he has never worked with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, for a team that should be a top team in the league if they have a capable QB, and at a time when head coach Vic Fangio really needs to win games. A move to sign Newton should be considered, especially given that the Broncos released Brett Rypien.
Detroit Lions
The Lions made a blockbuster trade that sent their longtime franchise QB Matt Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, a major downgrade at QB. Both Newton and Goff played in a Super Bowl, although both of them were on the losing end. They are two distinctively different players and Anthony Lynn’s new offense would have to cater each. Goff is a game manager who seems to settle for what the defense would give him, and it works as long as he can minimize his turnovers. Newton is more of an improvisational player who can instantly turn into a running threat at any given time. If the losses begin to pile up, then the Lions should consider signing the former league MVP.
Houston Texans
General manager Nick Caserio, who was with Newton in New England last season, pretty much signed every available free agent to log an evaluation for a franchise that has been left in shambles. Would the Texans be an attractive destination for Newton? If it means a chance to play given that their most viable option is Tyrod Taylor, as they say, “It is what it is.” Taylor and Davis Mills are currently the two QBs leading the Texans this season in the wake of Deshaun Watson’s ongoing civil case. Neither of them have a ceiling to not at least consider Newton. And while the weaponry at the skill positions is not what it was even last season, this should be a team to build back its value on.
New York Giants
If Daniel Jones truly blossoms into a legitimate starting QB and tones down on the number of turnovers he makes, the Giants could be a contender in the NFC East. What if he doesn’t? GM Dave Gettleman, who had that same title with the Panthers when they got to Super Bowl 50 under Newton, may have to reach out to him to save the team and his own job. A backfield with Newton and Saquon Barkley can lead to a successful salvage operation.
Seattle Seahawks
Barring any injuries, Russell Wilson should be good to go for the 2021 season. But if something happens to him, it’s unlikely that Geno Smith and/or Sean Mannion will be able to pick up where he left off in the hopes of an NFC West crown. Beyond that, if Wilson manages to talk his way out of Seattle in 2022, it should also be noted that the soon-to-be-70-year-old head coach Pete Carroll won’t be interested in a rebuild. As much as Wilson has accomplished with them, Carroll might even prefer to revert to an offense in 2022 that relies on Cam cooking rather than Russ.
Washington Football Team
Although Ron Rivera has ruled out on signing Newton for now, do remember that Newton started his career under him in Carolina. Rivera is now the head coach in Washington, where he debuted last season with a surprise NFC East title. He is now banking on 38-year-old journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has never taken a snap in the playoffs, to take the Football Team there, where Newton has started seven games over four postseasons while with Carolina. Should Fitzpatrick stumble early on, and if Taylor Heinicke doesn’t pick up where he left off in last season’s Wild Card round, then Washington should at least consider signing Newton.
However, many teams have been hesitant to sign Newton, with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy telling reporters, “I still think he has a ton of football left. But we’re very excited about the group that we have.”
Florio added, “As one source with extensive experience evaluating NFL personnel explained it, the current issue with Cam is his history of injuries and a belief that he’s not throwing the ball very well.”
Newton’s vaccination status may also be a reason why teams were hesitant to sign him. However, whether he is a starter or a backup, he can still throw and run the ball effectively.
Where do you think Newton is going to end up?
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