As the Patriots watch Tom Brady prepare to compete in his 10th Super Bowl this coming Sunday in his first season in Tampa Bay, New England continues to search for a replacement for its longtime franchise QB.
All options would seem to be on the table: high draft pick, trade, big-money free agent signing or value-based bridge QB.
If the latter is indeed a possibility, the idea has been posed that bringing Cam Newton back despite his dismal first season in Foxborough that barely included more touchdown passes (8) than wins (7) might even still be an option.
It’s an idea that’s not too appealing to many, and is actually rather appalling to former Patriots safety and NBC analyst Rodney Harrison would consider.
In a recent appearance on the Patriots Talk Podcast on NBC Sports Boston, Harrison had about as harsh a critique of Newton’s abilities as you will ever hear.
“That would be the worst decision [Bill Belichick] has ever made," Harrison told NBC Sports Boston of the idea bringing Newton back. "Because now you're not being fair to your team. When I saw what I saw with Cam, every time I saw Cam pretty much I was hurt. Because I was a guy that believed in Cam, and when you see him drop back and he continues to throw the ball into the ground, throw it five feet or 5 yards above somebody else, you're like 'What are you doing, Cam?' ...
“You have to find a quarterback. It would be a terrible mistake for Bill Belichick to bring Cam back because Cam can't play football anymore. He just can't play quarterback in the National Football League."
Ouch! But he may not be wrong.
Various reports have already had the Patriots showing interest in a trade for Matthew Stafford or even Derek Carr this offseason.
But Harrison made it painfully clear one quarterback Belichick and New England should not have any interest in is Newton.
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