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Cam Newton and the New England Patriots were in the midst of controversy last month when the veteran quarterback was forced to miss five days after a “misunderstanding” with the league’s COVID testing protocols.
Newton went through a five-day re-entry process and was not allowed to enter the team’s premises until he tested negative for the coronavirus on the fifth day of his absence. The Patriots said that by the time Newton went to a “club-approved medical appointment.”
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Days later, the veteran quarterback was released and rookie Mac Jones was named a starter. Newton addressed the COVID testing gap, saying he would not have made the trip if he had known what would have happened later.
He addressed the issue in his “Funky Friday” video.
“I crossed all the lines, I checked all the boxes, I dotted all of my i’s. Then to find out that I had to sit down, that’s when I sit down. felt a little bamboozled, because you all told me to go, ”Newton said.
CAM NEWTON THEORIZES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN “DISTRACTION” FOR THE PATRIOTS, MAC JONES
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton ends up passing the ball during an NFL football practice, in this file photo from Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo / Steven Senne, File )
(AP Photo / Steven Senne, File)
According to the NFL Network, only unvaccinated players went through the five-day reinstatement process.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Newton’s vaccination status was not a factor in the organization’s decision to release him.
The veteran quarterback said he still believes he will be released from the squad even after the coronavirus protocol issue forced him to miss a few days of training. He said he helped “soften the decision.” Newton recalled getting fewer reps with the first team in training, but said it would have been good to support Jones during the season.
However, he thought his shadow would have been a problem.
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“The reason they released me was because, indirectly, I was going to be a distraction without being the starter,” said the former NFL MVP. “Just my aura.… It’s my gift and my curse. When you bring a Cam Newton to your facility, when you bring a Cam Newton to your franchise, people are interested.”
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