According to sources, QB Cam Newton was released on Tuesday morning by the New England Patriots. Rookie Mac Jones will be the starter for the Patriots. The two had a close quarterback battle since the start of training camp.
Newton, who was unavailable for three days of practice last week due to COVID-19 protocols, was thought to be the starter throughout training camp and the Patriots’ three preseason games. Instead, the Patriots will go with Jones.
Jones, who was the 15th overall pick out of Alabama, was drafted by the Patriots in April. Jones finished the exhibition season 36 of 52 for 388 yards and a touchdown.
Newton played the first nine seasons of his professional career with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers selected him with the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Newton was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Panthers (2011, 2013, 2015). He won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year when he broke the single season NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a signal caller (14) and became the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in a single campaign.
In 2015, Newton was voted MVP and also won the Offensive Player of the Year award. He led the Panthers to an NFC Championship win and an appearance in Super Bowl 50, where they were defeated by the Broncos.
The Patriots signed Newton in the middle of the 2020 offseason. He had to fill the shoes of star QB Tom Brady, who left New England to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Last season Newton contracted the coronavirus, but only missed one game. In 15 games, he had 2,657 passing yards and only 8 touchdown passes. However, Newton added 592 yards on the ground and 12 rushing touchdowns. New England failed to make the playoffs, but the Patriots brought Newton back.
One of the possibilities for Newton’s release is the fact that he failed to get vaccinated, which is becoming an issue around the NFL. Let’s wait and see what is next for Newton.
The Patriots start their season against the Miami Dolphins on September 12.
