It was hailed as the highlight of a pretty dismal off-season when the New England Patriots bagged Cam Newton in June to challenge Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer for the starting spot.
The veteran quarterback and 2015 MVP signed a one-year incentive-laden deal that looked set to ease the franchise into the post-Tom Brady era after the six-time Super Bowl champion headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And as the season got underway, Patriots fans everywhere were suddenly adjusting their expectations. With Cam Newton’s speed and scrambling ability came a whole different type of offense that the team had never been able to use before.
Before Cam was hit with Covid, the team looked confident and exciting even with the lack of pre-season preparation. Sadly though, when Newton was ruled out for two weeks due to the virus, it was all downhill from there.
Although he’s readily accepted the scapegoat role, he is not solely responsible for the team’s dire performance this season.
Many fans and pundits are ready to call an end to his time at Foxborough but here is why that would be a bad idea…
Why the New England Patriots Should Stick With Cam Newton in 2021
Aside From Contracting COVID-19, Cam Newton Stayed Healthy All Season
One of the biggest concerns about Newton, and a major factor in why there was not a long line of suitors for the quarterback when he hit free agency, was that he has been injury-prone throughout his career.
The Heisman Trophy winner, who passed for 45 touchdowns and led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl in 2015, has struggled with injuries, missing 14 games last season over his foot.
He also played the final two games of 2018 with a torn rotator cuff that required surgery. As a result, questions were raised over whether he could stay healthy for an entire season as he heads into his mid-30s.
But Cam Newton has shown up in New England. He’s played physical football and has carried the Patriots’ offense the hard way, often plowing into the end zone himself when his inexperienced receivers have failed to get open.
Yes, he has struggled with consistency. He has a QBR of 45.1 and is tied for the least passing touchdowns in the league. His completion percentage has not been above 65 percent and he has only thrown for 2,415 yards this season.
But he is on his way back from injury and with a new team who has played with the same quarterback for 20 years.
If he is able to stay healthy through the off-season and into next year, these stats can only improve as he rebuilds and works on his mechanics post-injury.
The New England Patriots Offense Was Broken Before Cam Newton Arrived
While Cam Newton has graciously accepted responsibility for many of the Patriots’ losses this season, fans have been quick to forget that there were similarly dismal offensive performances last season even with Brady at the helm.
The problem has been identified for some time yet Bill Belichick has seemingly done little about it as of yet. As was the case for Tom Brady last year, Newton has had limited targets to choose from when throwing the ball.
The stand-out choice – Julian Edelman – has not played since Week 7 and underwent surgery on his knee while former first-round draft pick N’Keal Harry continues to disappoint.
The second-year wide receiver has seen 31 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns – far from the numbers anticipated when he was signed.
Another second-year wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has stepped up this year but lacks the experience to help elevate the offense. Meanwhile, Cam’s former teammate Damiere Byrd showed promise with a breakout performance in the Week 9 loss to the Houston Texans.
Byrd – now in his fifth season and a new addition to the Pats – put up 132 yards and one touchdown but failed to build on that success in the following weeks.
In one of the more appealing draft moves by the Patriots, the team acquired two top picks in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene but the duo has yet to make an impact with one catch between them.
Given time with these young receivers and with the anticipated return of veteran receiver Edelman, Newton should be able to develop chemistry and trust in order to vastly improve the passing game.
It wouldn’t hurt to target a talented receiver in the off-season either to add experience and a spark to the team’s receiving corps.
The New England Patriots Are in Desperate Need of Continuity Right Now
This season was always going to be an uphill battle for many teams but especially the New England Patriots. They lost their star quarterback and they were the most affected team by Covid opt-outs.
They signed their new starting quarterback late in the off-season and pre-season prep was hampered by Covid restrictions as the league fumbled its way through a tough situation to make sure the season still went ahead.
As Newton and the Patriots began to find their rhythm, he was struck with coronavirus and ruled out for two weeks – a turning point for the team which they have yet to fully recover.
The point? Newton never really stood a chance. It was an impossible task to ask of him. Demanding he carry this team – with limited receiving weapons and pre-season training – to anywhere near the success the fan base has come to expect was ludicrous.
But what would be more insane would be to tear up the script and start over yet again. Both Cam Newton and the Patriots team should want continuity if they are to move forward and improve. He may not have been the best choice for the Patriots in 2020 but now they should stick with him.
After this season, there will not be a long list of suitors for Newton when he becomes a free agent again. The New England Patriots should be able to re-sign him at an affordable rate if he is true to his word about it not being about money and being about respect.
He has yet to do much to demand the respect of New England fans but if he stays for a second season, he could build on the tiny sparks shown this year, develop chemistry with his receivers and continue to help reshape the offense.
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