Cam Newton

Newton was released by the New England Patriots in August but earned a chance with the Panthers after a shoulder injury to starting quarterback Sam Darnold.

Veteran QB Newton spent nine years with the Panthers from 2011 to 2019, winning the 2015 NFL MVP and earning three Pro-Bowl selections.

"Honestly, I'm still floating," Newton told reporters on Friday, after signing a one-year deal worth up to $10million.

He added: "This ain't for no ploy. This ain't for no ticket sales. This ain't for no Cinderella story. It's to win football games. That's pretty much what's on my heart, and that's how I'm going about it."

The Panthers released Newton in 2019 after giving him permission to seek a trade, eventually joining the Patriots as a free agent. Newton insisted there were no hard feelings from that.

"Were there disconnects in the past? It's irrelevant," Newton said. "The fact that we're able to make what may seem a lot of wrongs or some wrongs right, that's the most exciting thing about it.

"To hell with feelings. It would be the biggest right and wrong by just winning football games."

The Panthers, who are 4-5, placed Darnold on injured reserve on Friday with his shoulder injury expected to take four to six weeks to heal.

P.J. Walker will start at quarterback for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, although Newton is expected to come into starting calculations for the following week's game against the Washington Football Team.

Speaking as a guest on ESPN’s ‘The Pivot Podcast,’ the quarterback attributed his struggles in 2020 and 2021 to putting himself in tough situations during his short stint with the New England Patriots as well as last year’s return to his original team, the Carolina Panthers.

"Before I sit up here and allow the narrative to be made that Cam ain't got it no more, Cam is taking full responsibility and saying Cam put himself in a [messed] up situation, which then had a ricochet effect to how people think of me," Newton said.

"There’s not 32 [quarterbacks] better than me. If you think I couldn't be on somebody's team right now, you're a damn fool."

Newton's career has experienced a downturn since shoulder and foot injuries led to the Panthers releasing their then-franchise face following a 2019 season in which he was limited to just two games.

He signed with the Patriots shortly before training camp opened in 2020 and started 15 games in New England’s first year of the post-Tom Brady era, with mostly mixed results.

The three-time Pro Bowler finished 2020 with eight touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, the first time in Newton’s career he had more picks than TD throws when starting three or more games, and the Patriots went 7-8 in his starts to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Newton said he was never fully able to grasp a new offense on account of joining New England just two months before that season’s start.

"The New England experience was a [messed up] situation," he remarked. "I was still learning the offense seven to eight weeks into the season.

"It was just brain overload. It was times I was going to the line and I'm still thinking, 'Did I know it?’ Yes. To the degree that I needed to know it to show the world that I'm still Cam Newton? No. But I put myself in that situation."

The Patriots released Newton just prior to the start of last season after turning the offense over to rookie quarterback Mac Jones, and he spent nine weeks as a free agent before rejoining the Panthers in November.

Following a dazzling return in which he rushed for two touchdowns off the bench in Carolina’s Week 10 victory over Arizona, Newton was named the starter the following week but was never able to recapture his early-career form. The 33-year-old lost all five of his starts while completing just 54.1 per cent of his passes and recording a 61.4 passer rating.

"I signed on Thursday. I played on Sunday," Newton said of his Carolina comeback. "At what point did you think you was going to be successful? The next week, I started. That's still under 10 days of you being on the team. And you’re still trying to learn the offense."

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said last month that the team has kept in contact with Newton and has not ruled out bringing him back. It’s unclear if the veteran quarterback would agree to another reunion, as he stated h'’s looking for a scenario where he would have sufficient time to learn an offense while surrounded by a strong support system.

“If you’re asking to run this show without your supporting cast upholding their end of the bargain, then you’re always going to be left alone." Newton said.

Fournette likes the idea of the 2015 NFL MVP being brought in to compete with expected starter Gardner Minshew.

Newton, a three-time Pro Bowler, was released by the Carolina Panthers last month after spending his entire nine-year career with the franchise. He has battled significant shoulder and foot injuries over the past three seasons.

"I feel like, you know, Cam went to the Super Bowl, he's a great guy. I've been knowing Cam for a minute now," Fournette told ESPN on Thursday.

"Like I told some people that talked to me, I told them it's no disrespect to Minshew. I'm just trying to get in the best position as a team so that we can win."

Minshew burst onto the scene last season as a rookie and threw for 3,271 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions in 14 games after Nick Foles was injured in the season opener. His 91.2 passer rating was the best of any rookie quarterback in 2019.

Jacksonville traded Nick Foles to Chicago in March, leaving Minshew as the only quarterback on the roster with game experience.

Thursday's 24-3 road loss for the Patriots came amid a disappointing showing for Newton, the former Carolina Panthers star who was NFL MVP five years ago. 

He finished nine of 16 for 119 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception – a pick six – to go with seven carries and 16 yards. 

Collectively, New England were far from the level Belichick expects as they had their two-game winning run halted and slid to 6-7 for the season. 

An 18th consecutive year with a double-digit haul of regular-season wins is now beyond them, while Newton can only point to five touchdown passes in 2020 and he sits 23rd in passing yards (2,172 yards). 

The first question in Belichick's post-game news conference saw him asked whether he would continue to start with Newton. 

Cutting in, Belichick said: "Great question. I'm really glad you asked that. Cam's our quarterback." 

Asked to explain what Newton has done to deserve such support, Belichick again put it bluntly, saying: “He's our quarterback." 

Across the team, however, there must be improvements to meet the coach's demands. 

“We didn't do well enough to win tonight. We've all got to do a better job," Belichick added. 

"The Rams were the better team tonight, they deserve a lot of credit. We were out-coached, out-played, out-everything really. 

"They did a good job in all areas. We weren't really able to stay with them here. They're a good football team. They played well and they deserved to win. 

"We have to all do a better job, starting with me. it just wasn't our night tonight." 

Rams coach Sean McVay, who at 34 is half Belichick's age, was praised for his strategy by the Patriots coach. 

"They had a good running game. They've run the game well all year. Sean had a good plan and the players executed it well," Belichick said. 

"[Cam] Akers ran well. They did a better job than we did." 

The result saw the Rams (9-4) end a run of six losses to the Patriots. 

Newton, who was eventually withdrawn as Jarrett Stidham was introduced under center, took his share of responsibility for the defeat. 

He said: "We've just got to be better and it starts with me personally. Just have to make more plays, that's what it comes down to. 

"I think we didn't play a good style or brand of football tonight and they did and they made more plays than us. So, it led to them winning."

Newton will debut for the Patriots on Sunday after signing a one-year deal following his Carolina Panthers release in March.

Former NFL MVP Newton is filling the void left by Tom Brady in New England after the legendary quarterback's move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Newton has been hindered by injuries in recent years, with the 31-year-old limited to just two games in 2019 following a Lisfranc fracture.

"Excitement level is on 1,000," Newton, entering his 10th NFL season, said on Thursday. "I'm excited, happy. Just to get back into the rhythm of game week -- the preparation, the little nuggets that you can often forget.

"You have to remember, I've been away from football, really, for a full year. I haven't really had this whole process for a long time now, so being around, taking notes, watching film, finding out about different players each and every day, locking in.

"[I'm] excited about the game plan and more excited about just trying to get in a routine with the newness of the playcalling, the coaches and even the players."

Asked if he still experiences nerves before season openers, Newton joked: "I don't get butterflies. I give 'em."

"I've been playing in a lot of games in my life, a lot of opening days, to a lot of impactful, meaningful games, and at this particular point in my career I know how to control myself," he said.

Newton added: "Right now, I'm in a happy place, I feel motivated, I feel a lot of great emotions that are going on and not hindering me from becoming my best self.

"Yet through it all, I like it most that I'm just a piece to a puzzle. I don't want to be the puzzle. I try my best daily to prove my worth to this team and understand there are a lot of guys here who are depending on each other, and I want to be a person the team and these coaches can trust and depend on.

"Two or three months ago, I was questioning a lot of things. Right now, as I'm looking up at Gillette and the iconic logo for the Patriots like, 'How can I lose?'"

Newton, the NFL MVP in 2015, could soon be the starting quarterback for the Patriots after reportedly inking a one-year deal with New England following his release by the Carolina Panthers in March.

Having battled shoulder and foot issues in his final two seasons with the Panthers, there is doubt as to whether he can recapture his best. 

However, if healthy, Newton will be regarded as the favourite to take the reins of the offense from Brady following his departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl titles, with 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham having previously been seen as the presumptive 2020 starter.

Brady's rapport with wide receiver Edelman was crucial to three of New England's six championships, with the latter named MVP of their Super Bowl LIII win over the Los Angeles Rams at the end of the 2018 season.

In an Instagram post featuring a mocked-up image of Edelman celebrating with Newton in Patriots uniforms, the wideout expressed excitement at the former Panther's arrival.

Brady replied, writing: "I will always be your #1."

Given the success the two enjoyed together, Brady's claim may be correct, but he could soon have some competition if Newton returns to peak form in Foxborough.

The Ravens (6-2) and Patriots (3-5) meet at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, with New England having won 10 of the 14 clashes between the teams all-time.

Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, only joined the Patriots ahead of this season and comes up against Jackson, who took the individual honour in 2019.

Jackson praised Newton, saying: "I've been watching Cam since a long time, the whole country did.

"Everybody knows about Cam's Superman [celebration] and he was doing his thing. A lot of us look up to him, he's a mobile quarterback, and he's won titles, county championships, he got MVP and played in the Super Bowl, so I followed him a lot.

"I wanted to get to where he was at, and now I'm here and I get to play against him. So can't wait to do that."

Jackson added: "Just game recognising game. He's the real OG, Superman."

Newton has more rushing touchdowns (eight) than passing touchdowns (two) this season. The last player with that big a difference was Chicago's Johnny Lujack in 1950, when he finished with 11 rush TDs and just four pass TDs (minimum 100 pass attempts in a season).

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is wary of Newton, who threw two TD passes and rushed for another when he last faced Baltimore, in a 36-21 Carolina Panthers win in 2018.

"We've played Cam Newton before, the last time we played him he had a very good game against us," he said.

"So that's the challenge, he's an excellent quarterback, a very aware player and talented.

"He has a great arm, can beat you with his legs too, so that's the challenge this week."

Newton inspired Sunday's 45-0 humiliation of the hapless Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, California, where the Patriots kept their postseason hopes alive.

Former MVP Newton ran for two touchdowns to become the only NFL quarterback with double-digit rushing TDs in three different seasons, while he also set the league record for most multiple-touchdown games in a season by a QB with four in 2020.

Newton finished 12-of-19 passing for 69 yards and a touchdown, while he carried for 48 yards and a pair of TDs as the Patriots claimed back-to-back wins to improve to 6-6.

"Just be the hammer, not the nail," Newton told reporters when asked about his mentality of being a physical runner.

"God has blessed me with the stature that I have and anytime that I have an opportunity to create some type of force or momentum, then I'm going to do it.

"But at the same time I have to be cognisant of the position that I play and when I need to get down I have to get down."

It was the 29th shutout in New England's history and 12th under head coach Bill Belichick, who moved past Tom Landry for third-most games coached with 455.

According to Stats Perform, New England's win was the largest road shut-out victory in NFL history by a team that entered the game with a losing record.

Los Angeles (3-9) were condemned to their worst loss in franchise history, eclipsing a 49-6 demolition against Kansas City in 1964.

"We still have a long way to go," Newton said. "There are still some things that I could have been better at and I need to be better at, but each and every day for me - and I've always said it - is just learning.

"Learning in this offense and gaining the trust of the coaching staff to be able to go for it on fourth down - to be able to put the ball in the air - to be able to gain confidence in calling plays. From trick plays to regulars plays, run plays, pass plays, no plays. That's what the standard is for me and I just need to keep growing from it."

Newton added: "We just have to understand that we have to take it one game at a time. We understand what position we are in, and everything is pretty much in front of us.

"We just have to really hone in a focus on the opponents that we have to face that week and maximise each and every opportunity that we do get. If we keep that going on, we'll be in good graces."

Belichick said: "Just really proud of our football team today. Coming across the country, the guys really worked hard. Had a good week of preparation, really put a lot into it. We got a lot of great leadership from, as always, our captains, but from many of our veteran players.

"Some of our younger players have really stepped up their preparation levels, as well. It was nice to see it all come together today. I thought we had a game where all three units contributed. It was a complimentary game. We had plays on offense, defense, and special teams. We played at a good level for 60 minutes and had more consistency than we probably had in most other games. Really proud of the way the team competed."

His exit from the Panthers is a turn of events assumed unthinkable only a few years ago. Newton won the MVP award in the 2015 season for a scintillating campaign that ended with the Panthers losing Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos.

A series of injury issues have derailed the former first-round pick's career and, as he surveys his available options, Newton will find only one legitimate potential opportunity to start in 2020.

Newton taking snaps under center in Week 1 is dependent on interest from a team that also parted with their long-time starter this offseason.

Cam Newton – Los Angeles Charger?

The Los Angeles Chargers stand as the only team with a prospective opening for Newton to start.

Philip Rivers, with the Chargers since 2004, is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts. Los Angeles have not made a move to replace him, leaving Tyrod Taylor as the presumptive starting quarterback.

That is an unappetising scenario for Chargers fans considering buying the personal seat licenses at SoFi Stadium, which they will share with the Rams.

Aside from a few seasons of promise with the Buffalo Bills, Taylor has displayed little to suggest he is a starting quarterback capable of leading a playoff contender. He is, however, an ideal backup for Newton. 

Taylor and Newton possess a similar skill set with their ability to make things happen with their legs. Newton boasts significantly great upside as a passer and when at his best he has the arm to make any throw. 

Newton would also find an excellent set of weapons to get the ball to. Keenan Allen has at least 1,100 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons while Mike Williams provides a big-bodied target with the catch radius to negate the impact of inaccurate passes.

Hunter Henry is a prolific if oft-injured option at tight end and Austin Ekeler established himself as one of the better all-round running backs in the NFL last year.

The fit with the Chargers could hardly be better for Newton, who would instantly energise an uninspired fanbase. However, with the Chargers in a position to add one of the top quarterbacks in the draft with the sixth overall pick, they may not have interest. If they don't, then Newton will have to reconcile himself with being a backup.

Other potential destinations

Teams where Newton would appear to have a shot at replacing the current starter are thin on the ground. 

His best bets are with franchises that have 2019 draft picks who were not selected in the first round under center – the Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Second-rounder Drew Lock impressed down the stretch for the Broncos, but Denver will not have seen enough to be totally convinced by a gunslinger with a tendency for rash decisions.

Newton is an upgrade on Lock when healthy and the same is true with Jaguars starter Gardner Minshew. 

Minshew outplayed Nick Foles last year as a sixth-round rookie and his exciting style of play made him a cult hero in Jacksonville. Consistency will be key, however, if the Jaguars are to excel. Newton would be a tremendous replacement were Minshew to fail to regularly produce his best.

The Jags' AFC South rivals the Tennessee Titans are a possible outsider for Newton. They need a backup for Ryan Tannehill following Marcus Mariota's departure. Newton is an excellent insurance policy if Tannehill's 2019 resurgence proves a flash in the pan.

Proving his fitness

Any team considering taking a chance on Newton will be very interested in a physical examination given his recent injury history.

He battled a shoulder injury in 2018 and suffered a Lisfranc fracture last year, the latter issue limiting him to just two games. 

Newton's durability concerns may be a substantial worry for the Chargers, whose problems at offensive line led to much of Rivers' struggles in his final years with the team, though they have addressed the trenches by trading for guard Trai Turner and signing tackle Bryan Bulaga.

If Newton is to find a new home, he will need to prove he is healthy. Given the recent NFL order for teams to shut down their facilities due to the coronavirus pandemic, the opportunity to do so in a physical may not come for some time.

Newton is set to move on to the next stage of his NFL career but he may have to play the waiting game to find out where that will take place.

Andy Reid's Chiefs were somewhere near their ruthless best in the NFL on Sunday, winning a sixth straight game to improve to 9-4, Patrick Mahomes completing 20 of 24 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns in the rout.

It moved him third all-time in the most yards thrown by a Chiefs quarterback, above Alex Smith, with a total of 17,794 yards.

Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 37 yards and two touchdowns as the Chiefs looked formidable in defense and offense at Arrowhead Stadium.

A fumble on the first play from Josh Jacobs was clinically punished by Mike Hughes as the Chiefs had a dream start, and by half-time they led 35-3.

Curiously, they won and limited their opponents to exactly nine points for a third successive game, after previous successes against the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

Tyreek Hill went through 1,000 yards receiving for the season as he took four catches for 76 yards to reach 1,030, for his fourth 1,000-yard season in the NFL.

Mahomes was masterful though, the quarterback ending a two-game run without a TD pass by posting a season-best pass completion rate of 83.3 per cent. He stretched his record run to 20 consecutive regular season wins in QB starts in November or later.

For the Raiders, it was more of the same against the Chiefs, having become accustomed to losses in this game. They have won just three of 18 games in the rivalry since Reid was appointed head coach of the Chiefs in 2013.

JACKSON DOWN, BROWNS BOOSTED

Star quarterback Lamar Jackson was carted out of the Ravens' clash with the Cleveland Browns, and it was a day to forget for Baltimore.

A 24-22 loss means they slipped to 8-5 for the season, while the Browns improved to 7-6, bolstering their Wild Card hopes.

Jackson, doubtful pre-game with an ankle sprain, managed only four of four passes for 17 yards before taking a hit and making way for Tyler Huntley (27 of 38 for 270 yards and one TD).

The Ravens, frontrunners in the AFC North, almost pulled off a stunning comeback against their divisional rivals, having trailed 24-6 at half-time, but it proved just beyond them.

Baker Mayfield went 22-of-32 for 190 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns.

NEWTON WOES PERSIST

Cam Newton has now lost 11 straight games as a Carolina Panthers starter and held himself largely culpable for the latest in that long line.

He also became the first quarterback in NFL history with a rushing touchdown in each of his first four games of a season, but Carolina's 29-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons was a sickener for the former MVP.

He had 15 completions from 23 passes for 178 yards, splitting QB duties with PJ Walker, as turnovers and failed drives blighted the day for the Panthers.

Newton said: "Pretty much everything they did, we knew was coming. I've got to do a better job of protecting the football. I hold myself to a high standard to do those things and when it doesn't happen it's just inexcusable.

"We had such a great momentum for those drives and they were just drive killers, game killers in essence

"We were driving on both of those turnovers I had. To be optimistic, you see what we're capable of, but we've got to do it for ourselves."

The reigning Super Bowl champions scored 14 points from turnovers as New England suffered a myriad of offensive issues at Arrowhead Stadium with Cam Newton sidelined following a positive covid-19 test.

Patriots veteran Brian Hoyer stepped in and completed 15 of 24 passes for 130 yards and an interception, twice having the ball inside Kansas City’s 16-yard line without coming away with any points.

With the Patriots 6-3 behind and in short field-goal range, Hoyer was sacked by Frank Clark with seconds remaining to close out the first half, before the 34-year-old lost a fumble in the red zone to Taco Charlton.

Murray's 43-yard pass was brilliantly caught by Hopkins in the endzone with two seconds remaining to secure a win for the Cardinals on Sunday.

The top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Murray's throw to Hopkins was his only touchdown pass, as he finished 22 of 32 for 245 yards.

But he rushed for two scores, tallying 61 yards on 11 carries, as the Cardinals improved to 6-3.

According to Stats Perform, Murray became the first player in NFL history with a pass TD and a rush TD in five straight games, thanks to his pass to Hopkins.

Murray also joined Cam Newton as the only QBs in NFL history with 6,000-plus pass yards and 1,000-plus rush yards in their first 25 career games, as per NFL Research.

The Cardinals trailed 23-9 against the Bills early in the third quarter before scoring 17 unanswered points.

But Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs combined for 21 yards with 34 seconds left to give Buffalo (7-3) a lead, and seemingly victory, before Murray and Hopkins delivered a game-winning play.

The Cardinals moved top of the NFC West, with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks also holding 6-3 records, while the Bills top the AFC East.

Newton had two rushing touchdowns as the Patriots ushered in the post-Tom Brady era with a 21-11 win over the Dolphins in their season opener on Sunday.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Newton joined the Patriots on a one-year deal following his Carolina Panthers exit to replace legendary quarterback Brady in New England.

Reflecting on his first appearance for the Patriots, which consisted of 75 rushing yards on 15 carries, Newton told reporters: "It was different. It was great for the team to find a way – well, things showed up that we would not have expected, as we knew and things showed up that we did kind of expect.

"So one of the coaching points for the game was to be accessible to in-game adjustments and that's what it pretty much came down to. Getting a win like that, that's not necessarily pretty at times. That's good for the overall team character and I think we've just got to keep building from this."

Newton, who finished 15-of-19 for 155 yards and no interceptions, added: "This is the new normal and I think it's time for everybody, including myself, to realise this is what it's like.

"I think it came full circle today and – for me to just kind of realise that I'm a New England Patriot and I'm just going to embrace this whole moment."

"I'm just so blessed to have this opportunity, man, to, number one, be affiliated with an organisation," he continued. "Knowing that in itself is a blessing. To get a win, that's another added plus.

"But, yet through it all, this has been a strenuous, long process for me, and yet through it all, it's just been gratifying, and I just had such a sense of gratitude to the New England Patriots and to this team, just to give all that I could possibly give and hell or high water, finish today at this particular time with us having, going home with a win."

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick added: "Well Cam's been great for us… he's a very, very unselfish player. He's a great team-mate. He's earned everybody's respect, really, daily. He just continues to do everything that he can to help our team and that's really all you can ask from anyone and he continually does that, puts himself last and puts the team first.

"I think he's done a tremendous job there and I thought he played well today. He hit a lot of passes. He ran the ball well. He led the team. He made some good checks and adjustments, so I thought that he did a good job. There's room for improvement from all of us, so I'm not saying it was the best executed game in the history of football, but we did some good things today in all three phases of the game.

"We're proud of that and we'll go back and work on the things that we need to do to get better, but I thought he did a good job for us."

Nick Folk drilled a 51-yard field goal as time expired at MetLife Stadium on Monday, the Patriots scoring 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to condemn the Jets to their worst ever start at 0-9.

Newton helped the Patriots (3-5) end a four-game losing streak, although three of New England's five losses have come by single digits.

He completed 27 of 35 passes for 274 yards but also rushed for two touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to get to eight rushing TDs in his first seven games played in a season.

Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, hopes the win can get the Patriots going.

"It's been a long last couple of games and the last month, but this can kick-start right where we want to be," he told ESPN.

"We just showed resiliency today and I'm just so happy for those guys in that locker room that keep just battling back.

"It wasn't pretty, but it was a win."

The Patriots' win was their ninth straight over the struggling Jets, with New England behind the Buffalo Bills (7-2) and Miami Dolphins (5-3) in the AFC East.

Newton was happy to see the Patriots, who face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, return to winning ways.

"Just won, that's it, we just won. I'm just happy for that," he said.

"We've been practising our tails off, and just to see hard work pay off, it's just a great feeling. I haven't felt this in a long time so it's good."

Newton is seen as the frontrunner in his competition with rookie first-round pick Mac Jones to be the Patriots' starting quarterback.

However, he will now miss time as the Patriots take part in joint practices with the New York Giants ahead of their preseason finale on Sunday.

Explaining Newton's absence, a Patriots statement read: "On Saturday, Cam Newton travelled to a club-approved medical appointment that required him to leave the New England area. He received daily COVID tests, which were all negative. 

"Due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities, and as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, Cam will be subject to the five-day entry cadence process before returning to the facility. 

"Cam will continue participating virtually in team activities and return to the club facility on Thursday, August 26."

Only players who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are subject to the five-day re-entry process.

Newton and Jones have each impressed in preseason for the Patriots and had little difficulty moving the ball against second and third-stringers in their 35-0 rout of the Philadelphia Eagles last time out.

Former MVP Newton went eight of nine for 103 yards and a touchdown while Jones completed 13 of his 19 pass attempts for 146 yards.

Newton missed one game last season after testing positive for COVID-19. Across 15 games, he completed 65.8 per cent of his passes for 2,657 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

While his numbers through the air were disappointing, he did rush for 12 touchdowns, Newton's most since his rookie year with the Carolina Panthers in 2011 (14).

The 2020 season saw Newton, according to Stats Perform data, perform below the average in well-thrown percentage and air yards per attempt. He delivered a well-thrown, accurate ball on 76.1 per cent of his passes while averaging 7.07 air yards. The league averages for quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts in those metrics in 2020 was 78.0 per cent well-thrown and 8.16 air yards.

Jones, who was third in the Power 5 with a well-thrown percentage of 83.21 in his final season at Alabama last year, now has a chance to further his claim to the starting job with extra practice reps as Newton sits out.

Having not had a preseason, fans will be craving the return of on-field action when the Kansas City Chiefs begin the defence of their Super Bowl title against the Houston Texans on Thursday to open the campaign.

A thrilling free agency and draft process lit up an offseason that also contained multiple high-profile trades.

Movement in the quarterback market was at its most dramatic in recent memory, setting the stage for a 2020 season that will look very different to the last, and not just because of the new COVID-19 protocols.

Here, we look at some of the QBs who are preparing to start defining seasons.
 

TOM BRADY

Brady opted to leave the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning six Super Bowls and nine AFC Championships across 20 spectacular seasons.

What proved to be his last year with the Pats was not a vintage one – in 2019 Brady had his lowest yards per attempt (6.6) since the 2002 season, his lowest touchdown total (24) in a 16-game season since 2003 and his worst passer rating (88.0) for six years.

The veteran's supporters cited problems with his receiving corps, while critics pointed to diminishing physical abilities. 

At the age of 43, he will look to prove he still has what it takes with a new team, who are looking to become the first to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium, a feat that would further enhance Brady's legacy.

CAM NEWTON

Brady's replacement in New England also comes into 2020 with a point to prove.

Unhappy after his release by the Carolina Panthers, the former NFL MVP eventually joined the Patriots on a one-year deal that will only earn him around $1million.

Foot and shoulder injuries have limited Newton's effectiveness over recent years and he has not come close to matching his 2015 totals of 35 passing touchdowns and a further 10 on the ground.

But he now has the chance to return to the top as he joins an organisation with a winning mentality. Solid play is not too far in his past, with the 94.2 passer rating he achieved in 2018 - the last year he saw significant playing time - being his second-highest in a nine-year career.

AARON RODGERS

After the Green Bay Packers made the shock move to draft Jordan Love in round one, a 36-year-old Rodgers will need no motivation to show he still has plenty left in the tank.

Coming into the 2020 season, Rodgers has 8,444 yards, 51 touchdowns and just six interceptions to his name over the last two years – but a second Super Bowl appearance has so far eluded him. 

BAKER MAYFIELD

A desperately disappointing sophomore season for Mayfield resulted in the firings of the Cleveland Browns' general manager and head coach.

With new coaching staff, a rebuilt offensive line along with a stellar supporting cast including Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Austin Hooper, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, the former Oklahoma QB will have fewer excuses if he repeats his 2019 passer rating of 78.8 and a 3.9 per cent interception rate.

JOSH ALLEN

Stefon Diggs has been added to a Buffalo Bills receiving corps that looks like one of the NFL's best, giving Allen impressive tools to make a further jump in year three.

Despite leading the Bills to the playoffs last season, the QB continues to divide opinion, as he is yet to post a completion percentage above 60.

But his passer rating improved from 67.9 to 85.3 coming into this year and 17 touchdowns as part of 1,141 yards on the ground across his first two seasons highlight his effectiveness as a dual threat. 

PHILIP RIVERS

A strong offensive line may have provided some of the motivation for Rivers' decision to join the Indianapolis Colts after 16 years with the Chargers.

Despite eight Pro Bowl berths and reaching 4,000 yards passing in 11 of the last 12 seasons, Rivers is waiting for his first run to the Super Bowl, with time of the essence at the age of 38.

LAMAR JACKSON

Jackson's talent cannot be questioned after a stunning 2019 season saw him claim the MVP award, having thrown for 36 touchdowns to just six interceptions while adding 1,206 yards and seven scores on the ground.

But two years of being one-and-done in the playoffs is a record he is desperate to end and the challenge of even coming close to matching such a spectacular individual year is a daunting task for the third-year pro as he looks to establish himself among the league's greats.

DAK PRESCOTT

With his contract saga still unresolved after two years and Andy Dalton signed as insurance, all eyes are on Prescott with the Dallas Cowboys once again.

CeeDee Lamb has joined Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup in a receiving group that should help him record similar spectacular numbers to 2019, when he racked up 4,902 passing yards and threw for a touchdown on five per cent of his attempts (30).

Prescott has a new head coach and has not missed a game in four seasons, but he may need to improve a record of just one playoff win over that timespan to ensure he follows Patrick Mahomes and DeShaun Watson in landing a mega payday.

The 22-year-old Jones led Alabama to a national championship in the 2020 season and joins the Patriots after being taken with the 15th pick in the NFL Draft.

As a quarterback linking up with Belichick, who had Brady as his favoured signal caller for 19 years, Jones has a lot to live up to.

First, he has to dislodge Cam Newton though, so Jones is determined to play according to his own design and his personal strengths rather than look to copy anyone else.

Asked about Brady, Jones said: "I just love watching him, how he manoeuvres through the pocket and stuff. But for me it's just being myself and being my own player and obviously he did great things for New England and I'm just looking forward to going in there and working.

"I've watched all the Super Bowls, regardless of the team, so it was awesome. Obviously, Tom and the New England Patriots were in a lot of them growing up, so I got a chance to watch them and I just like good football in general."

Jones said he had watched previous Patriots games during the draft process, to get a firm grip of what makes the team tick.

Newton replaced Brady as Belichick's starting quarterback last season and has signed on for this year too, but his position looks set to come under threat in 2021 from Jones and Jarrett Stidham. The Patriots finished with a 7-9 record in 2020, while Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl glory.

Veteran coach Belichick, who described Jones as "a smart kid", said the process of getting the new recruit ready for the rigours of the NFL would "take a lot of time".

"Cam's our quarterback," Belichick said. "Whatever position, whatever time Jarrett or Mac are ready to challenge and compete, then we'll see how that goes. But right now, Mac, he's just got a lot of learning in front of him."

Jones would not disagree with that perspective, wary of pushing himself to the front of the queue before time.

"Cam's awesome," Jones said, "and I've only heard great things when talking to people that I know from the Patriots about how great of a guy he is and how much everyone loves him.

"He just has fun with it, and I do too, so hopefully we can kind of have fun together and I'll help him out. It's his show and I'm just there to support him and then kind of just help out the team in whatever way I can."

Jones excelled in his only year as a starter at Alabama, completing 77.4 per cent of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions.  He was one of three finalists for the 2020 Heisman Trophy, which went to his teammate DeVonta Smith.

Jones had been tipped in some quarters to join the San Francisco 49ers, but they plumped for Trey Lance instead with the third overall pick.

"I feel like, secretly, I really wanted to go to the Patriots all along, so I'm actually really happy that it happened," Jones said. "But it doesn't really matter.

"You get picked. You've got to take the opportunity and take advantage of it and learn the new system, learn the new coaches, learn the new culture, and coach Belichick's done a great job establishing that throughout his time in New England and I've just got to learn how to be a great teammate and do my job and stick to what they're telling me to do."

The QB will seem like a natural fit for Belichick's system in New England after leading Alabama to a national championship in 2020. 

That should temper any disappointment Jones might feel in dropping to the 15th pick after some had speculated he might go as high as third overall. 

Jones excelled in his only year as a starter at Alabama, completing 77.4 per cent of his passes for 4,500 yards with 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions. 

He was one of three finalists for the 2020 Heisman Trophy, which ended up going to his teammate DeVonta Smith. 

Now the question is how quickly he will take over the starting job in New England, who went 7-9 last season with Cam Newton at the position after Tom Brady left to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Newton re-signed with the Patriots for 2021, but Jones will be seen as the heir to Brady, who teamed with Belichick to win six Super Bowl titles in 20 seasons together. 

The selection would seem to eliminate the possibility of Jimmy Garoppolo returning to New England, which had been a popular subject of speculation in recent months. 

Since the 2002 realignment, the Patriots have won the division in 16 of the past 18 seasons.

However, they will not be celebrating a division title in 2020, after results in Week 14, which included a Patriots defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, left them four games back of the division-leading Buffalo Bills with three games to go.

New England face the Miami Dolphins, who are still in the hunt at 8-5, on Sunday before taking on the 10-3 Bills. One of those teams will dethrone them.

In a loaded AFC, a playoff berth as a Wild Card also seems unlikely even if the Patriots win all three of their remaining games to get to 9-7.

Their drop-off in 2020 has come despite New England landing former league MVP Cam Newton as the successor to Tom Brady at quarterback.

Newton has failed to recapture the form of that magical 2015 season and is a free agent in the offseason.

That combination of factors begs the question - what should the Patriots do at quarterback in 2021?

An unusual piece of history

The fact Patriots head coach Bill Belichick felt compelled to sign Newton is proof enough that he does not believe 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham can be the long-term answer at quarterback.

And it is highly debatable whether Newton can be considered the solution after 12 games of evidence.

Newton has completed 66.1 per cent of his passes for 2,172 and has five touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

The advanced metrics reflect a season defined by inaccuracy for Newton who, according to the NFL's NextGen Stats, has a completion percentage above expectation of minus 1.7, with their numbers indicating he should have completed 67.8 per cent of his passes.

He has been more effective on the ground, rushing for 451 yards and 11 touchdowns, putting him on pace for a slice of NFL history.

Per Stats Perform data, there have been 1,292 player seasons with 300 pass attempts and no player has been level in rushing touchdowns and passing touchdowns.

Barring a significant turnaround in the last three weeks, Newton - who has 301 pass attempts so far - will finish with more scores on the ground than through the air.

The unusual disparity indicates that the Patriots have done an excellent job of building around Newton's running abilities but do not have the playmakers for him to excel as a passer.

There is an argument, therefore, for the Patriots re-signing Newton and using free agency and the draft to invest in pass-catching options who can improve the offense.

However, using premium picks on wide receivers has historically not gone well for Belichick.

Belichick's blind spot

Belichick is unquestionably one of the greatest evaluators of talent to ever grace the NFL but receiver has long since been a blind spot for him.

Indeed, since he took over as head coach in 2000, the Patriots have picked seven receivers in the first three rounds of the draft. None have registered a 1,000-yard season.

Spelling it out in those terms is slightly unfair on Deion Branch, who had a 998-yard season in 2005 and had 4,297 yards and 24 touchdowns in seven years with New England.

However, he is the only one of that group to put together a 40-catch season, though much-maligned 2019 first-round pick N'Keal Harry could join him this year. Harry has 29 catches in 2020.

Belichick's success story in terms of drafting receivers is Julian Edelman, a seventh-round pick in 2009 who has three 1,000-yard seasons and two with 100 receptions.

Edelman has been pivotal to the second half of the Patriots dynasty - winning three Super Bowl rings - but is on the downswing of his career.

The Patriots clearly need an infusion of talent at receiver, yet there is a stronger case for letting Newton depart and finding a new quarterback who can elevate those around him.

Appealing alternatives

Even with an anticipated drop in the salary cap to an estimated $175million, the Patriots are still expected to have around $68m of cap space with which to work.

Guard Joe Thuney is a candidate to be re-signed to a lucrative extension but New England would theoretically still be able to ink Newton, who will likely not command a top quarterback contract in the $30m a year region, to a deal even after handing new contracts to other players.

But the debate is whether signing Newton to a long-term deal would be palatable for Belichick and the Patriots when they have the flexibility to explore other options.

The Patriots are, as it stands, slated to pick in the middle of the first round, likely putting quarterbacks such as Trey Lance and Zach Wilson out of reach.

But more defeats are anticipated for New England come the end of the season, perhaps putting them in striking distance to select a signal-caller who will be the priority for quarterback-needy teams once Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields are off the board.

New England could also use their first-round pick in a trade for a quarterback who will come at a more expensive price but who will outperform Newton.

Detroit Lions star Matthew Stafford, who is eighth in the league in yards per game (270.9) and 11th in adjusted yards per attempt (7.7), stands out as an obvious candidate having thrown 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions this year.

The Patriots also have the option of trading back in the draft for more picks and still landing an intriguing quarterback. Mac Jones, in the running for the coveted Heisman Trophy, would come with the seal of approval of Alabama head coach and former Belichick assistant Nick Saban.

Having a quarterback on a cheap rookie contract who can leave the Patriots with more money to spend elsewhere or being more aggressive and acquiring a veteran like Stafford each stand as more appealing paths for New England after Newton's uneven season.

The marriage of Belichick and Newton appeared an intriguing one and there have been flashes of the potential for it to yield long-term success.

But those glimpses have been overshadowed by long stretches of mediocrity and the best route to Belichick establishing another reign of dominance over the AFC East looks to be to find an alternative at the game's most important position.

Carolina last week brought their 2011 first overall pick and 2015 MVP Newton back on a one-year deal having parted company with him after the 2019 campaign.

Newton, who was released by the New England Patriots before the start of this season, made his second debut against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and had an instant impact.

P.J. Walker got the start in the absence of the injured Sam Darnold but it was Newton who produced the moments that will live long in the memory.

His first touch saw him find the endzone on a two-yard run to give the Panthers the lead, with his second seeing him connect with Robby Anderson on a two-yard touchdown pass as Carolina cruised to a 34-10 win.

Both Walker and Newton are in a position physically to start, but head coach Matt Rhule indicated it is the latter who will likely do so as the Panthers aim to boost their playoff hopes by moving to 6-5.

"You know, I think we're probably trending that way to be quite honest with you. I'm not gonna probably pull that trigger 'til later," Rhule said of Newton starting.

"But I think, and I was pretty transparent the other day, in terms of wanting to push him into that role I think it's good for our team.

"But we're getting P.J. ready as well. As I said, gameplan-wise, I think we could see a myriad of different things happen."