Tuesday is NFL cutdown day, as teams must set their initial 53-man rosters by end of day – and with the release of Josh Johnson early in the day, the Jets’ QB room has a collective zero NFL snaps between them.
The Patriots had released Cam Newton hours before Johnson’s release, and Moose & Maggie had a discussion on WFAN about whether or not Newton might be a good addition for Gang Green.
“I fail to understand why they never really brought in a backup to help Zach Wilson; he’s going to need someone to talk to that’s not his coaches,” Maggie posited. “Cam’s career might be over, he didn’t look good against the Giants on Sunday, so I get it, but teammates have loved him going back to Auburn, and I think he could add value. Could Cam win you a game? Definitely, and maybe he could provide a little mentorship.”
“They’re completely different players, and you want your backup to be the same kind of player,” Moose replied. “Cam and Zach Wilson don’t play like each other, and I don’t know how much he has left. As a mentor, sure, but I’d be hard pressed to think it works on the field here.”
“It was valuable for Sam Darnold to have Josh McCown that first year, and McCown didn’t have nearly the career Cam has had,” Maggie added, “and with them playing the Patriots Week 2, I don’t see a downside to having Cam in your quarterback room.”
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Once the Jets cut Johnson, Maggie doubled down on the notion that there’s no substitute for experience – on OR off the field.
“They don’t really have that mentor guy in the locker room. We’ve seen some terrible backup quarterbacks out there – is James Morgan really going to win you a game?” Maggie asked after reporting the news that the Jets had released Johnson.
“I think Cam’s shot, I don’t think there’s much left there,” Moose replied. “Cam Newton can’t throw the ball, so I don’t think he gives you a better shot to win a game than James Morgan.”
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Maggie disagreed, of course, but once again, the knowledge aspect became the focus.
“Just from the shoulders up, the knowledge he would bring and what he knows about the game,” Maggie said, “is more than James Morgan can give you. You don’t want the backup to be totally overwhelmed when he comes in.”
“He doesn’t want to be a backup according to reports, and honestly, if you can’t play, you can’t play,” Moose replied. “We saw at the end in Carolina, and last year in New England, that he wears down and can’t throw the football consistently.”
Moose further posited that Newton won’t sign anywhere until at least Week 2, when contracts aren’t guaranteed for any additions, but it remains an interesting thought.
Follow WFAN's midday team on Twitter: @MandMWFAN, @MarcMalusis, @MaggieGray, and @TheHoffWFAN
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