Yes, both Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels have proclaimed that Cam Newton is currently the starting quarterback for the Patriots.
But, thanks in large part to Mac Jones' impressive showing in the preseason to date, the conversation continues when it comes who might actually be the guy when Week 1 rolls around.
Keyshawn Johnson thinks such talk is silly.
Appearing on ESPN's "Get Up!", the former receiver said that there is absolutely no debate when it comes to who will be the Patriots' starting QB.
"Quite honestly, there is no edge," Johnson said. "Cam Newton is the starting quarterback of the New England Patriots Week 1. Bill Belichick has said that. He continuously says that and he will not elaborate on it. This is somewhat of a manufactured media story as far as I'm concerned based on how Cam Newton played last year. Clearly, Cam is the starter. They went out in the offseason and upgraded at a number of positions to give him the necessary help.
"When you look at him (Thursday) night or even in Week 1 of preseason, you can tell he's comfortable now sliding in the pocket, getting the proper depth, delivering the football. Mac Jones is going to be the starter of the New England Patriots in the future, not today. He is getting better. He's a pro quarterback, no question about it. But everyone wants to speed the clock up for whatever reason. They just want to speed it up and say, 'Hey, Mac Jones is pushing Cam Newton.' He's not pushing him. He really isn't."
Within Johnson's proclamation he revealed part of a conversation he had with Newton, helping shed some light on how the analyst views the veteran's lot in life.
"I told Cam, I said, 'Look, if you play like you played last year with everything they've given you, you need to retire, period.' But I don't think that's the case and neither does he," Johnson said. "Mac Jones they drafted as the future quarterback two years from now, three years from now, whatever the case may be. But Bill Belichick did not put all of this together to go to a rookie quarterback that is learning how to play. He is still throwing balls slightly behind the receivers. He still double-clutching the balls. It's not coming out fast. And that's OK. It's going to get better, really is."