The Patriots have made it clear the starting quarterback competition between Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer is going to be an open one, to begin with. That said, most everyone believed that Newton's emergence as the Week 1 starter was a forgone conclusion.
Not so fast.
ESPN's Dianna Russini got a prominent voice within the Patriots' division to offer a different take:
I spoke over text w/ an AFC East Head Coach on Cam Newton and the Patriots. "I think they are going to keep 3 QBs. Use Cam Newton perhaps as the wild card. I actually don't see him starting Week 1 in the offense...I know one thing for a fact: the #Patriots love Jarrett Stidham"
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) July 1, 2020It is hard for most to imagine that even with a team-friendly contract that Newton would still be around if he was backing up someone else. Stidham, on the other hand, might benefit from a second year on the sidelines, continuing a career path along the lines of what Jimmy Garoppolo experienced when he was with the Patriots.
