Introduction
On Tuesday, August 31st, 2021 in a very unexpected and abrupt notion the New England Patriots announced that they are releasing the veteran quarterback, Cam Newton, and that the New England Patriots are naming their rookie Mac Jones as the starting quarterback for the start of the upcoming 2021 – 2022 NFL season. Jones definitely outperformed Newton during training camp as well as in the 3 preseason games for the New England Patriots.
The head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, had previously stated on multiple occasions that Newton was going to be their starting quarterback. That is why this news came as a huge surprise to so many that are following the action in the National Football League just prior to the start of the 2021 – 2022 NFL regular season which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 9th, 2021. The first real NFL game this year will feature the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Dallas Cowboys from Raymond James Stadium located in Tampa, Florida.
Preseason Quarterback Competition Results
Jones completed his work in the preseason with the New England Patriots by posting the following numbers: 36 – of - 52 passing through the air for a total of 389 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, and 0 interceptions. Mac Jones played an aggressive 107 preseason snaps for the New England Patriots, which was by far the most out of all the quarterbacks for the New England Patriots.
Newton had started at quarterback for all 3 of the New England Patriots’ preseason games, but Cam didn't play nearly as much as Jones did. Newton took 39 preseason snaps at quarterback for the New England Patriots this year. Newton ended the preseason with these statistics: 14 – of – 21 passing for a total of 162 passing yards, 1 touchdown pass, and he threw 1 interception.
Current 2021 Offensive Depth Chart
3 Wide Receiver and 1 Tight End Formation
- · Quarterback – Mac Jones, Brian Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham (PUP List)
- · Running Back – Damien Harris, James White, Rhamondre Stevenson, J. J. Taylor
- · Wide Receiver (1) – Nelson Agholor, Malcolm Perry, N’Keal Harry (IR)
- · Wide Receiver (2) – Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski
- · Wide Receiver (3) – Kendrick Bourne, Matthew Slater
- · Tight End – Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry (Q), Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene (IR)
- · Fullback – Jakob Johnson
- · Left Tackle – Isaiah Wynn, Justin Herron, Yodny Cajuste
- · Left Guard – Mike Onwenu
- · Center – David Andrews (Q), Ted Karras
- · Right Guard – Shaq Mason, Yasir Durant
- · Right Tackle – Trent Brown
The NFL Career Statistics for Newton
At the quarterback position for both the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots, Newton has thrown 190 touchdowns and 118 interceptions during his NFL career. He has compiled 31,698 passing yards, a completion percentage of 60.1 %, a passer rating of 85.8, 5,398 rushing yards, and 70 rushing touchdowns throughout his decade of total playing time in the National Football League.
Career Achievements, Honors, Awards, and Records
Throughout Newton’s ten - year career in the National Football League he has been named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2015, NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2015, NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, NFL’s First - Team All - Pro in 2015, selected to the NFL Pro Bowl three times in 2011, 2013, and 2015, named to the PFWA All - Rookie Team in 2011, and he won the Bert Bell Award in 2015 too.
Over the course of Cam’s NCAA college football career, he was a 2 – time BCS National Champion in 2008 and 2010, a recipient of the Heisman Trophy in 2010, Maxwell Award winner in 2010, Walter Camp Award winner in 2010, Davey O'Brien Award winner in 2010, AP College Football Player of the Year in 2010, Sporting News College Player of the Year in 2010, Consensus All - American in 2010, SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2010, and he was named to the First - Team All - SEC also back in 2010.
Newton owns several NFL records including: the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 70, the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season with 14, and the most rushing attempts by a quarterback with 1,071. Although his days as an explosive rushing offensive threat are over for the most part, Cam can still play quarterback for an NFL team at least as a second option (back – up QB). Look for another NFL franchise to sign the recently released veteran quarterback in Cam Newton sometime soon as the upcoming 2021 – 2022 season of the National Football League is about to commence.
Jones’ Football Career Achievements, Honors, Awards, and Records
Even though Mac Jones is just a rookie in the National Football League this year, he has accomplished so much during his time playing quarterback in the NCAA for the Alabama Crimson Tide from 2017 to 2020. His college football accolades consist of being a 2 - time CFP National Champion in 2017 and 2020, Davey O’Brien Award in 2020, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2020, Manning Award in 2020, Heisman Trophy runner - up in 2020, Consensus All - American in 2020, First - Team All - SEC in 2020, and SEC Scholar - Athlete of the Year in 2020 as well. I expect Jones to have a stellar career in the National Football League. His maturity and expectations for success this early on in his NFL career have already strongly impressed me, but only time will tell how good he really will be as a professional football player in the NFL.
Media Statements
After the news broke regarding the quarterback competition out of the New England Patriots’ camp, Newton went to Instagram to post this message: "I really appreciate all the love and support during this time but I must say ... please don't feel sorry for me. I'm good."
Following the New England Patriots’ final preseason game last week, Mac Jones said he was prepared to take over the starting quarterback role in New England for the Patriots but was ready for any of the possible outcomes. Jones stated, "I'm here to play any role I can play, help in any way I can, and I'm going to be ready whenever my time comes."
Jones’ veteran teammate on the offensive line, Trent Brown, explained, "I think he can be special. To be so young, I think he makes some throws that not a lot of young guys can make." With comments like that Mac has obviously earned the respect of the locker room.
The longtime captain and the longest - tenured player on the New England Patriots’ roster, Matthew Slater, exclaimed, "I think he's a great young man. Character really counts when you talk about what we do off the football field, the way we carry ourselves. The way that he commands respect of even guys like myself, older guys that been here for a while, he's earned that respect by the way that he's gone about his craft."
Sources:
“New England Patriots release Cam Newton; Mac Jones to start at QB”, Mike Reiss, espn.com, August 31, 2021.
“New England Patriots – Depth Chart”, espn.com, September 3, 2021.
“Cam Newton”, pro-football-reference.com, September 3, 2021.
“Mac Jones”, pro-football-reference.com, September 3, 2021.