Bill Belichick is keeping everyone in the dark about who will start under center for the New England Patriots this season – including the quarterbacks themselves.
Cam Newton revealed on Monday he does not know whether he will be preferred to Mac Jones for the Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins on September 12.
"No, [Belichick] hasn't said that," he said on Monday. "It is what it is.
"Every single day, I'm coming out here with the anticipation to just get better, and that's the only thing that I can do, so I can control that."
Newton is returning in 2021 after a difficult first year with the Patriots following Tom Brady's departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The former Carolina Panthers QB, who was the MVP in 2015, threw for 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns – his lowest career marks across a full season – as well as 10 interceptions.
Starting 15 games after seeing his final campaign in Carolina disrupted by injury, Newton's arm appeared to be impacted as he threw for just 7.07 air yards on average.
His 103 carries excluding scrambles led the NFL at his position, but his 4.06 yards per carry were comfortably below average.
Newton now has competition from Jones, who was selected with the 15th overall pick after leading Alabama to the College Football Playoff National Championship title.
Jones put up 4,500 yards, 41 TDs and only four picks, ranking first among Power 5 QBs in completion percentage (79.1) and third in well-thrown percentage (83.2).
The 22-year-old was also below par in air yards (8.52) and yards per carry (2.09), however.
Newton is widely expected to start ahead of Jones for now, but the three-time Pro Bowler understands the reasons for such questions.
"I don't take it personal," Newton said. "I just want you guys to understand everything you know I know. There's no hidden motives or things like that.
"I do know those things like that I can't worry about, because each and every day I don't necessarily care about who's starting.
"I mostly care about making sure I put the best product out there for me. I know Mac is feeling the same, and I know Brian [Hoyer] is feeling the same way, and everyone else, going down each and every position.
"As far as Week 1, we have so much to worry about prior to Week 1; that's where my focus is right now."