Often times when rookie quarterbacks are selected high in the NFL Draft, it bothers some veterans at the position.
Just look at Aaron Rodgers most recently with Jordan Love. But when it comes to Cam Newton with Mac Jones, Newton knows he's in a different position and acknowledged Tuesday, Jones was the right pick.
"It didn’t make me feel any type of way because he was the right pick, you know what I’m saying, in my opinion," Newton said during a Zoom press conference. "He was the best player available and that is what the NFL Draft is for.
"As far as having any chip on the shoulder, I mean, you’re stating the obvious. I don’t need too much to get myself going, let alone that happening. And it’s no disrespect to Mac. It’s no disrespect to Bill [Belichick] and his decision. I support it 110% because you still have to do what’s right for the organization, for the long haul. Like I said, I will reiterate we all have to make each other better and it starts with ourselves and holding ourselves to a daily standard."
Newton also discussed how he's viewing the competition in the quarterbacks room between himself, Jones, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.
"As a competitor, I’d be a fool if I didn’t think Brian Hoyer wants to be a starter," he said. "I’d be a fool not to think Mac & Cheese [Mac Jones] wanted to be a starter. I’d be a fool if Jarrett Stidham didn’t want to be a starter. You’d be a fool to think that I don’t want to be a starter. But, those things happen with the comfort of understanding the system. We all know nothing is going to be given to nobody. And it’s just that competition each and every day with yourself that is going to bring the best out in everybody else. The better that I am, the better Mac will be. The better Mac is, the better he’s going to make me. The better Stiddy is … and the list goes on, especially with Hoyer. Hoyster is the person who sets the tone for that room. He’s been here the longest. He has a great feel and we all learn from each other, so the better off everybody is in that room, the better off we will all be.”
Newton has struggled in recent sessions when it comes to his throws, but it's just minicamp and things can change in a big way once the pads come on for training camp.
The Patriots are scheduled for one more minicamp session Wednesday.
