Initial Thoughts: Cam Newton Signs with the Patriots
You’ll never be able to say the Patriots are boring. The Patriots shocked the world Sunday night when they signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million. The deal is heavy on incentives. Here are our initial thoughts on the signing.
Should we really have been surprised by this signing? No. The Bill Belichick era has brought two consistent things: winning and signing low-risk high-reward veterans to incentive-heavy deals. Don’t forget– in 2015, Newton was the league MVP. Newton followed up his MVP performance with solid seasons in 2016, 2017, and 2018. If he can get back to that level, he’s the best quarterback in the AFC East.
When talking about Newton, you have to bring up his health concerns. Last season, Newton was plagued with injuries. His declining health led to a placement on the injured reserve. Newton only played in two games in 2019. The big question for the Patriots is which version of Newton are you getting? Either way, its worth a shot to find out.
So, What’s Next?
The road ahead is an interesting one for the Patriots. Jarrett Stidham, who was the assumed starter before the news broke Sunday night, will now battle it out with Newton on the practice field. If healthy, Newton has the leg up in the quarterback competition. It’s important to remember the signing has more to do with the Patriots wanting to win now, than an indictment on Stidham. It’s possible Newton is the present while Stidham is the future. In our eyes, the starting quarterback spot will ultimately be decided on the health of Newton.
How it Impacts the Roster?
There are a few ways this could change the roster. For starters, instead of keeping a young guy like Jeff Thomas, the Patriots could opt to keep Newton’s old teammate, Damiere Byrd. Second, if Newton wins the starting job, Josh McDaniels will have the opportunity to open up the playbook like never before. The threat Newton poses on the ground will lead to a much different style of playcalling than we’ve seen in New England for the past 20 years. If the Patriots make a shift on offense, they’ll need the personnel to match that.
Team Outlook
This move should tell you all you need to know about the Patriots mindset: They want to win now. A rebuilding team doesn’t go out and bring in Newton. The Patriots still have one of the best defenses in the NFL and their run game will be much improved. In a division with no clear front-runner, the Patriots are very much contenders for the AFC East crown.
Overall, the deal is good for both sides. Newton gets to prove himself while the Patriots take a low-risk shot on a former MVP at a position of need. Let us know your thoughts on the acquisition in the comments below!
It’s solid move!
I like Stidham too!
just hoping we have a 2020 season, should be fun to watch🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
Yup, either way, it’s a win-win for the Patriots! Thanks for reading.
I am the biggest Tom Brady fan in the world, but I would much rather have Cam Newton at the league minimum plus joe Thuney and 14 million in cap space than Tom Brady for one year at 30 million.Well played!
I think it was yet another BAD decision on Bill’s part. A course he started with his lousy decisions last season. Home from bad to WORSE!