Cam Newton has impossible shoes to fill as the potential starting quarterback of the New England Patriots – well, Tom Brady is probably the greatest quarterback of all time. Newton has yet to win the starting lineup in New England, but the Patriots’ latest quarterback has already made a positive impression on Bill Belichick.
That’s half the battle.
“We’ve done a lot of meetings, a lot of passing,” Belichick said in a conference call with reporters, via Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. “A lot of information has been passed on to all the players. He has worked very hard, I would say, like all our players. We have a hard working group. Those guys are ready to go and we have some insert long days. They have during it process has received a lot of attention. “
Belichick did not limit his praise to Newton, and gave all quarterbacks in the room the same compliment.
“I would say that all of the quarterbacks, at that position, these guys are trapped, are straight, worked extremely hard. All four of them,” Belichick said. “When they all get into the huddle, everyone has a lot of confidence in what they can do, and the information they need to give the team. Game calls, adjustments, audibles, protection adjustments, things like that.
“But again, we did not play anywhere near the speed where we will play, so we’ll see how it all comes together at that point. But Cam is a hard-working kid. That he really is. . “
Newton is fighting Jarrett Stidham for the starting position, although the former MVP already has the upper hand. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora on Friday called the Patriots “too positive about the veteran quarterback both physically and mentally. Josh McDaniels will release and unleash the hot QB.”
The Patriots will begin full practice next week, but Newton already has a chance to impress Belichick even more over the weekend. New England are starting up-pace practices, which means Newton will get to read real defenses and make progress in his post-snap readings.
That is the next step for Newton in this process, a long step towards revitalizing his career.
