It was evident that Mac Jones was the better quarterback by the New England Patriots’ second preseason game.
The rookie from Alabama showed better command of the Patriots offense, and his skill set suits the team better.
It’s not that Cam Newton cannot lead the Patriots to victory.
After all, he led a roster with limited talent to seven wins last season.
Unfortunately, the Patriots system prefers an accurate quarterback, not a mobile one.
The little kid talking to Cam Newton in this Play 60 commercial can now be officially identified as Mac Jones: pic.twitter.com/UskOThV3LA
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) August 31, 2021
Newton’s mishandling of the NFL’s COVID-19 safety protocols could be the final wedge that made New England choose the rookie over the veteran.
While the former Auburn standout cannot participate in team practices, Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels saw what Jones could do with the squad and threw their complete confidence behind him.
But will the decision change even if Newton returns?
Before that episode, Jones was already putting up a better preseason than Newton.
The same narrative prevailed during training camp as well.
Perhaps the Patriots were also gun shy in pulling the plug on Newton’s tenure in New England.
The other players might criticize the decision if there is no probable cause.
However, a stern eye test alone will convince the other Patriots players that Jones is their best chance of winning, even if Newton had a strong pull over the locker room.
Prime Cam Newton was a spiritual experience. 🔥🔥 (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/q1rR1FR7rt
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) September 2, 2021
Therefore, New England could have let Newton go before their third preseason game against the New York Giants.
Instead, they released the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player barely two weeks before the 2021 season.
At this moment, teams have practically finalized their rosters from around 90 to 53.
Newton’s late release endangers his NFL future too.
There’s a good chance that he will sit out this season and come back stronger in 2022.
Newton Has Much Left In His Tank
He posted on Instagram that his fans need not worry about him and that he will be okay.
But deep inside, getting released hurts his ego.
Newton never experienced being a backup quarterback or not having a team at all.
Yet that could change if he got an early release from the Patriots.
If Newton was available, he could have had a fair shot in making it into another team.
Former Patriots LB Rob Ninkovich says Mac Jones was helping Cam Newton learn the playbook. https://t.co/UDd6l8fJHv
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 4, 2021
Perhaps the Atlanta Falcons will take Newton instead of Josh Rosen.
Or the Philadelphia Eagles sign him rather than Gardner Minshew.
The Dallas Cowboys were also a possible destination after Ben DiNucci’s release.
But teams won’t gamble to disrupt what they’ve built throughout the offseason anymore.
Franchises would like to play a few games before they make necessary roster adjustments.
Had Newton been cut a week earlier, he can still join a team that will need his services.
Yes, he is not the same explosive quarterback that dominated the league during the previous decade.
But he can still offer something on the table once he gets a chance to compete for a roster spot.
Cam Newton is better than
– Daniel Jones #Giants
– Ryan Fitzpatrick #WTF
– Teddy Bridgewater #Broncos
– Jalen Hurts #Eagles
– Jameis Winston #Aints
– whoever TF is in Indy #ColtsArgue with ya momma
— IamMontyFetti (@4MR_Monty) September 4, 2021
In the meantime, Newton will keep himself busy by staying in shape and tending to his football camps.
It shouldn’t have ended this way if the Patriots were gracious enough to move away from him sooner than later.
NEXT: Cam Newton Was Always An Odd Fit With The Patriots
