It looks like the Patriots will be Cam Newton’s team once again in 2021, at least to begin the season.
Newton started his tenure with the Patriots with a strong September last year, but really faded down the stretch, whether it was due to injuries, or lack of playmakers around him.
Whatever the reason, it appears he’s on track to start under center in Week 1, assuming he stays healthy. What happens from then on remains to be seen, though, as the Patriots selected Mac Jones with the 15th overall pick in the draft, marking the first time Bill Belichick had taken a quarterback in the first round.
But the Patriots spent a ton of money in free agency, and they’re looking to compete this season, rather than rebuild. That’s probably why they’re putting the offense on the veteran quarterback’s shoulders. The future remains unclear, but here’s what Belichick had to say about situation at training camp.
“From a consistency standpoint, that’s always important,” Belichick said, via The Providence Journal. “Obviously production. Hopefully, those things will be good and I’m sure it’ll be a hard decision. But we’ll see how it goes. We’ll just let them play and try to do what we feel like is best for the team based on their performance.”
He continued:
“No. I mean, Cam’s our starting quarterback. I think I’ve said that so …,” Belichick said.
The AFC East is one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, but the Patriots seem to believe that Newton gives them the best chance of success to begin their 2021 campaign.
