Cam Newton is officially out as the Patriots starting quarterback.
After one ugly season in New England – the first year post-Tom Brady in Foxborough – the former NFL MVP and No. 1 overall pick was a stunning cut by Bill Belichick’s Patriots.
The Mac Jones’ era is apparently officially underway, the No. 15 overall pick ascending to the starting job the way so many past Patriots much-needed first-round picks at other positions have done before him.
The Patriots are, seemingly, officially Mac Jones’ team!
It’s the outcome that so many a fan in Patriot Nation seemingly wanted – Newton out and Jones in. In some ways, it was the obvious conclusion to the events put in place on draft night.
But, somehow, it feels unfair. Almost like Belichick and the Patriots did Newton dirty, as the kids say.
Belichick made it clear there was a competition this summer, even while calling Newton his starter from draft weekend straight through August … until he didn’t in his postgame press conference following the preseason finale against the Giants.
All along the way, Newton took the first reps in practice and preseason games. That continued even after the experienced-if-limited incumbent missed five days of practice, including a key joint workout with the Giants, due to a “misunderstanding” regarding NFL COVID protocols and testing.
Newton took all the initial reps in practice. Started all the preseason games. But also saw Jones get way more chances on both the practice field and the preseason game field. Newton was treated like veteran starter, a guy not needing a ton of reps to be ready for opening day.
Except now, he’s out of work. He’s not only no longer one of the top 32 quarterbacks in the NFL, he’s a fading superstar without a team.
And while Jones got far more reps, two- to three-times more in practice and preseason game action to fast track his learning curve, he never got treated like the starter. He saw limited work with the first offensive line and top New England weapons. Barely battled first-team defenses across the line of scrimmage.
Except now, he’s the starter. He’s the guy who’ll take on the Dolphins and Brian Flores’ defense on Sept. 12 at Gillette Stadium. A rising star with a team to lead and lots to prove.
In the end, Belichick did what he has always preached he would. Belichick chose the better player. He picked Jones as the guy who probably gives the Patriots the best chance to win, the best chance to run the type of Josh McDaniels offense that’s worked for years in New England and most likely to take full advantage of the Jonnu Smith-led retooled passing attack.
From late April to the final day of August, it was a weird, winding path to the right answer.
Jones is the present and the future in New England. He’s the man tasked with taking the new-look Patriots back to relevance and the playoffs. The former Alabama star is da’ man these days in Patriot Nation.
And Newton is the soon-to-be-forgotten footnote in Patriots history. The cleanser that followed Brady and paved the way for Jones.
No, he didn’t deserve to be the Patriots starting quarterback in 2021 after all that went on in the COVID-altered season in 2020 as so many fans and media analysts proclaimed. Belichick didn’t owe Newton the job.
Belichick did probably owe Newton the chance to truly compete for the job and, strangely, the veteran never really got that.
Jones probably deserved more proper preparation time to be the starter before he’s thrown to the Dolphins.
But, alas here we are. The Mac Jones era is underway in New England and that’s probably really all that matters.
