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Bill Belichick – Cam Newton to win Patriots starting quarterback

If Cam Newton is to succeed Tom Brady as the New England Patriots starting quarterback, he’s going to have to earn the job at training camp. Bill Belichick stopped decisively before naming Newton the team’s QB1.

“This place is the same as every other place on the team. We have a long way to go. We will see how things go,” Belichick said Friday in his first public speech since Newton signed with the team. “I can’t control the performance of the players, it’s up to them to decide. We’ll give everyone a chance and see what happens. I don’t know.”

Belichick has been consistent with this type of approach throughout his 20 seasons as coach of the Patriots, although there is no question of who would start as a quarterback once Brady takes the lead. plan in 2001, helping the franchise win its first of six Super Bowl Championships.

Brady’s free agent departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March created a gigantic void that Newton – based on his career resume – is the top contender to fill after agreeing to a one-year contract with the club end of June.

“We spent a lot of time with Cam, [had] a number of different people and a number of different conversations, just trying to see what the fit would be. It was very positive on our side. I’m glad it worked, ”Belichick said.

Newton’s main competition will be 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham, another Auburn alumnus. Brian Hoyer, an 11-year veteran, is also on the depth map alongside undrafted free agent Brian Lewerke of Michigan State.

Stidham was the Patriots’ top replacement last year, and he helped organize pitching sessions with receivers in suburban Boston for several months during the offseason. Once Newton officially joined the Patriots, he contacted some of the team’s pass catchers in Los Angeles over the past month, such as Julian Edelman and 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry.

But Newton has some ground to catch up after missing the team’s virtual offseason schedule during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The meetings were good for all of us – for the players, the staff – sort of bringing things together. I felt like we were doing what we could do. We took a lot of the opportunities we had.” , Belichick said. recognizing that they were different from being able to practice in the field.

As for how the Patriots will build a playbook without naming a starting quarterback, Belichick said it would be the same as in the first 20 years of his tenure.

“You’ve set up a general structure that you put in place. Everyone has to learn some fundamentals and some basics. Every player, no matter how long they’ve been playing – whether it’s two years or 20 years ago – there are still has a basic progression to training camp. to that player’s position, ”Belichick said. “That’s where we’re going to start. This is, in my opinion, the right thing to do, regardless of the player or the position they play. …

“I don’t think you start out in a training camp with your football team doing a triple reverse or double reverse, or things like that that could highlight a particular player. That’s the type of thing. that happen the road a bit. “

As the Patriots’ plans to replace Brady will be closely watched, so will the way the team adapts for six NFL players to step out of the 2020 season, a group featured by the linebacker Dont’a Hightower, security Patrick Chung and the start. right tackle Marcus Cannon.

Asked about his reaction to the opt-outs, Belichick said, “I respect them all. I talked to these guys and they explained their situation. They had to make the decision that was best for them and I respect and respect her. fully 100% support. “

Belichick added that he was not sure there would be more players who could decide to withdraw from the season.

“Everyone has to make their own decisions about this. They have to weigh their own situation,” he said. “Each of us is unique and we all have different lives, situations, families, environments, etc.”

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