A number of the Patriots pass-catchers are in California this week working out together along with quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham.
According to ESPN’s Mark Sanchez, Stidham was the one who put it all together, calling it “Pats West.” Several social media posts have confirmed it taking place at a local field/park and include players such as Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, Jakobi Meyers, Devin Asiasi and Matt LaCosse.
Stidham is apparently doing the majority of the throwing, as well.
It is notable that Stidham is leading the charge considering everything that transpired last season with Newton being the starter all year and Bill Belichick never giving the second-year quarterback any real meaningful playing time. Stidham could be pouting, but instead he is doing the opposite.
So, what does this mean for him and the team? It’s hard to say all that much.
While it’s great that Stidham is doing this, is it really going to change his role on the team? It is pretty clear how he’s viewed by not getting a chance to start late in the year last season and then Newton being re-signed this offseason. Perhaps there will be a more of a quarterback competition this summer, but he would need to be drastically better than Newton to get the starting job.
But, organizing these workouts could signal a different attitude for the Auburn product going into his third NFL season. There were several reports last summer that the team did not like how Stidham approached the competition and backed down to Newton in a way. Maybe that won’t be the case this summer.
With that being said, as it stands now Newton is the starting Patriots quarterback. It’s who free agents have been asked about and have discussed on their own. The team could obviously draft a rookie next month, but Stidham isn’t even in the conversation relating to the position. This doesn’t seem fair to him, but it is what it is.
Like we said, it’s a good thing that Stidham is putting together these workouts and could signal a different mindset going into training camp this summer, but it just feels like it won’t matter.
Unless Newton really, really struggles in training camp and Stidham really, really shines, it does not seem like the 24-year-old has any chance of jumping the former league MVP on the depth chart.
