Pats cut Cam, name Mac Jones starter

[DAG 33,983]

3 minutes ago, TexasTiger said:

Possibly, but once again he’s in a crappy situation right before the season starts to learn a new system/teammates.

Yeah but that comes with the territory sometimes. I personally think his options open up a lot more if he is willing to be a back up QB behind someone like Dak.

Edited August 31, 2021 by DAG

[aubiefifty 16,791]

Just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, Bill Belichick was asked to characterize the training camp and preseason play of quarterback Cam Newton.

“Definitely moving in the right direction,” Belichick said.

A little more than an hour later, Newton was cut from the New England Patriots, immediately elevating first-round draft pick Mac Jones into a Day 1 starter in Foxborough.

The right direction turned out to be off the team.

Belichick isn't messing around. He never is, of course. There is never a hesitation when it comes to decisions that need to be made. No heart strings. No emotions. No tipping of his hand. “This is professional football,” he likes to say.

Everything, as he often repeats, comes down to doing “what’s best for the team.” In that case, it was going with Jones, who outplayed Newton from the first day of camp through the third preseason game. Not just in totality, but on almost every single day of practice.

That includes the five last week that Newton wasn’t available because he pointlessly put himself on the wrong side of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols by a) not being vaccinated and b) leaving town and taking the wrong kind of tests.

Newton was willing to take on that added hurdle of being unvaxxed — the NFL is more lenient with those who have received their shots. How much it mattered in the final decision is unknown, but sure couldn’t have helped.

If nothing else, Jones got nearly a full week, including a couple of joint practices against the New York Giants, to sear into Belichick’s mind what the team would look like not just with the Alabama rookie as QB1 ... but Newton not even there.

Mac Jones will start from Day 1 for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, who cut Cam Newton on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Newton returned to start the third preseason game last week, but it was Jones who got the most reps. Newton played just two series and went 2-of-4 passing. Jones, meanwhile, was in for six drives and went 10-of-14 for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Newton attempted just 21 passes in three preseason games. Jones had 65, and 107 total snaps. Pro Football Focus graded Jones out with a 92.2 rating. Newton was just 79.6.

There was a belief that Belichick was using the preseason to get Jones more work so he’d be ready when his time came. (Plus Newton, as a veteran and former league MVP, didn’t need it.) That wasn’t the case. After all, Belichick never limited Tom Brady’s preseason workload, even as he pushed into his 40s.

The writing was on the wall. A more timid coach, a more conservative coach, might have decided to let Newton start the season, perhaps even play past a Week 4 return visit from Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that should prove to be emotional and intense.

Belichick isn’t that, though. His six Super Bowl rings suggest no one should be. If Jones is ready, then Jones is ready. It’s on him to deal with the pressure and expectations.

And Jones looked ready. Very ready.

The QB draft class of 2021 already looks promising. The top two picks, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson, are immediate starters in Jacksonville and with the New York Jets. No. 3 selection Trey Lance is making San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan contemplate a platoon system. And 11th pick Justin Fields will take over in Chicago soon — at least once the coaches there move on from Andy Dalton, who plays the role of Newton in their QB drama.

None of them have looked as good as Jones in this preseason. None walked into as good of a situation or enjoyed the supporting cast or coaching talent around them, of course. Still, Jones, who went 15th, has looked every bit as good, or better, than all of them.

Belichick certainly thinks this is his guy. Newton was signed a year ago on a low-budget contract to serve as the bridge between Brady and whatever the future held. He was a good teammate. He was a good player. It was clear Belichick really liked him, even signing Cam to a $12 million, one-year deal for 2021.

Newton was also aging, with his best days obviously behind him.

If Jones hadn’t distinguished himself, Newton would still be serving as that bridge. Jones won the job though, and Belichick clearly didn’t think Newton would serve best as a backup.

This way, it’s Jones or bust — journeyman Brian Hoyer will be there for only emergency purposes. There is no quarterback controversy.

That’s the plan for New England to try to win a Super Bowl, which is the only goal at a place with so many of them.

It’s Mac Jones or bust.

Sentimentality and caution are not allowed when trying to move in the right direction.

[CleCoTiger 1,957]

I think the Pats cut Cam after deciding on Jones as starter (for whatever reason...because in practice and pre-season games Cam played pretty well) out of respect. Belichick didn't think Cam should have to play second fiddle to a rookie and decided the best thing was to give him a shot with another team on the open market. I'm a Cam fan and think the Pats made a mistake, that they should have run the offense with Cam and played to his strengths (which remain considerable), but I think he'll catch on with another team and if I'm right about why they made the decision to cut him, then I won't complain.

[yngwie1995 2,229]

9 hours ago, TitanTiger said:

Well, he was the guy until he let Mac Jones get all the practice reps and all the coaches' attention for 5 days because of a dumb decision.

You went from "Regardless of your position on vaccines" to calling it a "dumb decision" (not getting vaccinated) rather quickly. 

[TexasTiger 12,882]

1 minute ago, yngwie1995 said:

You went from "Regardless of your position on vaccines" to calling it a "dumb decision" (not getting vaccinated) rather quickly. 

It was demonstrably dumb. No reasonable person can dispute the factual impact. This has nothing to do with one’s personal opinion.

[yngwie1995 2,229]

2 minutes ago, TexasTiger said:

It was demonstrably dumb. No reasonable person can dispute the factual impact. This has nothing to do with one’s personal opinion.

He said he had personal reasons for not getting it. Why is it "dumb" to stick to one's beliefs?

[TexasTiger 12,882]

12 minutes ago, yngwie1995 said:

He said he had personal reasons for not getting it. Why is it "dumb" to stick to one's beliefs?

It’s fine if you don’t mind giving up a competitive advantage in a tough contest. Just fine.

[JBiGGiE 2,488]

Julio Jones made Greg McElroy look like a franchise quarter back.

Amari Cooper made AJ McCarron look like a franchise quarter back.

Devonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, and Jerry Jeudy would make any quarterback look like a franchise quarter back.

Sorry if I'm not drinking the Mac Jones koolaid because he's looked good against some NFL third-stringers...

[CleCoTiger 1,957]

1 hour ago, yngwie1995 said:

He said he had personal reasons for not getting it. Why is it "dumb" to stick to one's beliefs?

So...what if Cam "believed" the Earth was flat, and that germs, viruses, and bacteria were irrelevant to disease, and that Reptilians rules the world? "Belief" ought to have some basis in reality, don't you think?

[TexasTiger 12,882]

1 hour ago, JBiGGiE said:

Julio Jones made Greg McElroy look like a franchise quarter back.

Amari Cooper made AJ McCarron look like a franchise quarter back.

Devonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, and Jerry Jeudy would make any quarterback look like a franchise quarter back.

Sorry if I'm not drinking the Mac Jones koolaid because he's looked good against some NFL third-stringers...

Got sacked 4 times by them last game.

[TitanTiger 20,482]

2 hours ago, yngwie1995 said:

You went from "Regardless of your position on vaccines" to calling it a "dumb decision" (not getting vaccinated) rather quickly. 

In Cam’s situation it was dumb. It gave a rookie the opening needed to steal his job. 

[Randman5000 4,228]

1 hour ago, TitanTiger said:

In Cam’s situation it was dumb. It gave a rookie the opening needed to steal his job. 

No doubt that stuff is happening.

Quote

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/florida-football/urban-meyer-reportedly-under-investigation-following-comments-on-roster-cuts/

I bet Urban isn't the only one

 

[Duder 238]

19 hours ago, TitanTiger said:

Cam had the job even though Mac was pushing him.  Belichick consistently said Cam was their QB and he practiced with the starting units all through the preseason practice and in all the preseason games.  But right at the end, allowing Mac Jones almost a week of undivided attention while Cam couldn't even be at the facility, was a stupid move.

Yep.

Cam looked better this preseason than he did all last year.  He gave a talented kid a golden opportunity.  My gut says Belichick decided to go with Mac because of performance/COVID combo.  It won't be the last time Cam has to quarantine.  He likely gave him the option of being a backup or being released to give himself a shot elsewhere 

[Duder 238]

Here's the thing, Cam can make whatever decision about the vaccine he wants.  But at the end of the day all of our actions, both positive and negative, have consequences.  You have to be willing to accept that.

[TitanTiger 20,482]

6 hours ago, Randman5000 said:

No doubt that stuff is happening.

 

A coach would be an idiot not to consider it when making roster decisions. If you have two guys and they are basically even in your mind in terms of ability, team chemistry, durability, and value to the roster, but one is vaccinated and the other isn’t, why wouldn’t you choose the vaccinated one?  It’s less risky. 

[wcware 1,365]

I heard on a news clip on local radio yesterday that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated players made up 93% of all training camp rosters???? Is that right? Can anyone check that?

[TitanTiger 20,482]

12 hours ago, yngwie1995 said:

He said he had personal reasons for not getting it. Why is it "dumb" to stick to one's beliefs?

Ok, if you don't care about losing your job, it's not dumb.  That better?

[TitanTiger 20,482]

1 hour ago, wcware said:

I heard on a news clip on local radio yesterday that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated players made up 93% of all training camp rosters???? Is that right? Can anyone check that?

Pretty sure you heard that wrong.  Most teams are close to being fully vaccinated from what I understand.  The Falcons for instance are 100% vaccinated.

[AuburnEagle79 2,168]

Cam not cut for vax status

 

According to Bill, the vaccination had nothing to do with it. 

 

[wcware 1,365]

1 hour ago, TitanTiger said:

Pretty sure you heard that wrong.  Most teams are close to being fully vaccinated from what I understand.  The Falcons for instance are 100% vaccinated.

I might have heard it backwards 

[RunInRed 16,409]

I think the COVID situation with Cam gave Belichik the easy decision/out but all indications based on Mac's performance was that he was going to get the job sooner or later regardless.

[gravejd 3,270]

50 minutes ago, AuburnEagle79 said:

Cam not cut for vax status

 

According to Bill, the vaccination had nothing to do with it. 

 

Pretty sure it would get Bill in trouble saying vaccine did have something to do with cutting Cam. Myer has pissed of the NFLPA because he said vaccine status played a role in his cuts 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32121794/jacksonville-jaguars-urban-meyer-says-vaccination-status-factor-roster-cuts

[TexasTiger 12,882]

1 hour ago, AuburnEagle79 said:

Cam not cut for vax status

 

According to Bill, the vaccination had nothing to do with it. 

 

He doesn’t want the hassle Urban Meyer is dealing with for being honest.

[cole256 17,081]

1 hour ago, AuburnEagle79 said:

Cam not cut for vax status

 

According to Bill, the vaccination had nothing to do with it. 

 

Lol according to Bill cam was doing great and moving forward with the team a couple of hours before he was cut

[AuburnEagle79 2,168]

43 minutes ago, gravejd said:

Pretty sure it would get Bill in trouble saying vaccine did have something to do with cutting Cam. Myer has pissed of the NFLPA because he said vaccine status played a role in his cuts 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32121794/jacksonville-jaguars-urban-meyer-says-vaccination-status-factor-roster-cuts

Yeah I think it was a factor, but probably only in that it left the door wide open for Mac when Can had to miss a few days.