[ad_1]
The former NFL MVP had some solid games at the start of the 2020 season, including a stellar performance in a September loss to Seattle, but was extremely inconsistent during the last game. A fight with COVID and injuries to important teammates like Julian Edelman, David Andrews and Rex Burkhead haven’t helped. He finished with career lows (as a starter) in completed passes, passing yards and touchdowns as the team finished 7-9.
Newton set a new franchise record for most rushing yards in a season for a quarterback with 592. The Patriots went 7-9 and missed the playoffs.
Former Patriots quarterback coach Jedd Fisch, who left the team in the offseason to become head coach at the University of Arizona, praised the development.
“So happy to see this!” @CameronNewton is a special person and a great player. I can’t wait to see him excel this season! ” Fisch wrote on Twitter.
In February, Newton said on the “I Am an Athlete” podcast that he wanted to re-sign with the Patriots.
“Yeah, dammit yeah,” Newton said. “I’m tired of changing, my brother. I’m coming to a point in my career where I know a lot more than I knew last year.
Newton also thought he would be better off a second time with the Patriots receiving corps.
“Sammy [N’Keal Harry] knows me. Jakobi [Meyers] knows me. Bud [Damiere Byrd] knows me. Young tight ends know me. The youngest people who will come know me, ”he said. “Like, we’re still trying to flush out the 20 years of what it was. And I come in and say, “It’s not me.” “
In 2020, the Patriots signed Newton, who was released by the Carolina Panthers, as a free agent just before training camp in July. This time, they’ve blocked Newton from reaching free agency, which begins Wednesday when the NFL’s new “league year” begins.
Newton struggled to adjust to the New England offensive and recognized that his mechanics needed fine-tuning and that his decision-making (i.e. his internal clock) had to be faster.
Jarrett Stidham, drafted in 2019 in the fourth round, is under contract until the 2022 season. He spent last season as a replacement for Newton. He played five games in 2020 and completed 24 of 48 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.
This story will be updated. Christopher Price of Globe staff and Conor Roche of Boston.com staff contributed.
Jim McBride can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @globejimmcbride.
[ad_2]
Source link