The New England Patriots’ decision to cut Cam Newton on Tuesday came as a bit of a shock as the former MVP is now without a team less than two weeks until the season starts.
But one former Patriot believes that Bill Belichick just did Newton an enormous favor.
Deion Branch, who won two Super Bowls with the Patriots before retiring in 2012, said he was caught off guard by the move but believes that Newton deserves to be a starter in the NFL.
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“Cam isn’t a guy you want to sit on the bench to be backing up Mac Jones,” Branch told TMZ Sports. “[I’m] not saying Mac isn’t a good player, but he’s just not that type of player. Let’s tip our hats off to coach Belichick and the move that he did make, freeing Cam up and allowing him to go seek another team and for sure he’ll be picked up.”
Yet, with the season starting a week from Sunday, there are limited options of where Newton could potentially start, although Branch named a few who should be giving the veteran quarterback a call.
“There’s plenty of teams out there for him. You’re looking at Dallas, Houston is another team, Washington, off the top of my head the Dolphins. …I’m sure there’s plenty more. Those four teams there could actually use Cam’s services.”
While Branch thought Newton did enough to start, he also believes Jones can still find success as a rookie with the Patriots.
“I think he’ll excel,” Branch said. “It’ just all about now can we put the proper pieces around him so we don’t expect Mac to go out and win every game for us.”
“This is a postseason team,” Branch continued. “I think the moves that coach Belichick made this offseason and moves they made in the drafts…the moves that have been made thus far, they’re trending in the direction that this team will be in the postseason, but it’s all about what type of team they will be when they make it to the postseason.”
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