Over the past few weeks, Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera has repeatedly shut down the idea of signing veteran free agent quarterback Cam Newton. And at the moment, there doesn't appear to be a need for him, as Taylor Heinicke resembles a viable starter -- even with Ryan Fitzpatrick out.
Of course, the season is still young. Plans in the NFL are never set in stone. But former Washington quarterback Jason Campbell hasn't been surprised by the franchise's lack of interest in Newton. The situation isn't ideal for him.
"If you're going to bring Cam in, it's at a standpoint where he wants to start. He isn't willing to sit behind anybody," Campbell told The Zach Gelb Show on Friday. "If you're going to give Heinicke a chance -- to see what this kid can do -- if you bring Cam in, there may be a lot of pressure put on him. Because he may be looking over his shoulder a little bit. I think Coach Rivera wants to make sure Heinicke doesn't have to do that...
"For right now, I don't think they're going to make that move, just because Cam comes with a little bit of stuff behind him. It's the glamor and everything that also comes with Cam. It's nothing bad, it's just that he's a big figure, and a guy who's five years removed from being an MVP in the NFL... I just feel like, at this standpoint, it's going to be extremely hard for him to catch on with someone this season, unless the right situation pops up."
Newton, who won an MVP under Rivera in 2015 with the Carolina Panthers, was released by the New England Patriots on Aug. 31. The 32-year-old veteran lost his starting job to Mac Jones, who was selected 15th overall in this year's NFL Draft.
In one season as the Patriots' starter, Newton was underwhelming. He threw for more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (8) in 2020, and posted a 47.0 quarterback rating -- the second-lowest mark of his career. Due to Newton's poor play, New England finished 7-9, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
As for Heinicke, he played the role of hero in Washington's thrilling win over the New York Giants on Thursday at FedEx Field. The 28-year-old journeyman completed 34 of 46 passes for 336 yards with two touchdowns and one pick, and orchestrated a clutch game-winning drive with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Heinicke admitted to reporters that he has the confidence to be Washington's starting quarterback while veteran Fitzpatrick recovers from a hip injury. Fitzpatrick, who signed with the team back in March, is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.
Washington (1-1) will visit the Buffalo Bills (0-1) in a Week 3 matchup on Sunday, Sept. 26. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, they currently have a 21-percent chance to make the playoffs, and a 16-percent chance to win the NFC East.
The entire conversation between Campbell and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.