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Analysis: NFL, NFLPA Agrees to CBA Amendments for the 2020 Season
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On the eve of rookies and quarterbacks arriving in Foxborough to start training camp, the New England Patriots cut the bait with nine players on Sunday, bringing their roster to 80 players, according to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe. Among those dozen players who were shown the door were quarterbacks J’Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke, who were eliminated in the draft earlier this offseason. The other casualties on the list consist of catchers Isaiah Zuber, Sean Riley and Will Hastings along with linebacker Kyahva Tezino, defensive tackle Courtney Wallace and security officers Adarius Pickett and Malik Gant.
The Patriots could have started training camp with the traditional 90-man roster, but were due to drop to 80 before the recently agreed August 16 deadline that the NFL and NFLPA resolved in their negotiations on how the league will handle the league. COVID-19 pandemic. Simply making the cuts now not only puts New England ahead of the eight ball, it also opens the door for some of these players to find a new club to sign up for in what will be a very challenging summer to make a opening list.
As for the two quarterbacks, Smith played his college ball at Louisianna Tech. He completed 64.3% of his passes during his senior season for 2,977 yards, 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also ran for an additional 264 yards and four scores. Lewerke played for Michigan State and struggled with his accuracy there, completing less than 60% of his pitches throughout his college career. During his last season in the state of Michigan, the senior threw for 3,079 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a high career completion percentage of 59.6.
The quarterback room will be of particular interest to the Patriots this offseason after Tom Brady’s departure in free agency and the arrival of Cam Newton. With Smith and Lewerke off the list, they are now just Newton, sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer fighting for QB1 honors. If talent wins and everyone stays healthy, it’s Newton’s job to lose, with Stidham finishing second.
However, it is not out of the question that these three quarterbacks make the opening list. Given the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, depth on the roster and specifically on the quarterback will be especially important this season. While the Patriots only rolled with Brady and Stidham last season, it may be wise to go with a trio of quarterbacks in 2020 to give the club even more depth. Having a guy like Brian Hoyer, who is entering his third term with New England, as potentially the third-string quarterback is an insurance policy.
