The Name on the Front is all that matters

I am one of the fans not over hyping Cam and because of that, people think I don't like Newton. As a running back under center I love Cam. However, just like with Hoyer; I know there are two Cam Newtons. My excitement for signing Cam is the same as it was for Hoyer.

I did my record prediction for the Patriots many weeks ago now. I had the Patriots floor at 7 wins. They're too good to lose any more. My ceiling was 11 wins, not including the playoffs. The only game I had going either way was the Baltimore game, which I have them losing. My ceiling would be different if Cam had signed in March or the first week of April.

I Still have the Patriots winning 10 games. However, I think there are now going to be four instead of one coin flip games. Seattle, KC, and Houston now join Baltimore. I just don't see Newton being familiar enough with the team to beat Seattle and KC. Houston will be in Houston, I don't see the Patriots going down there and winning.

I've given Newton the eye test. I've looked at his stats. I've listened to fans, I've heard their cases. The same case they make for Newton is what I've been making for both Hoyer and Stidham. Which is, "The Patriots don't need an elite quarterback, they need a game manager."

I get why some fans think Stidham or Hoyer will beat out Newton for the Job. Familiarity with the players and knowledge of the playbook and system. The one thing that gave Stidham the advantage over Hoyer, is the one thing that gives him the advantage over Newton. 

That is Both veteran quarterbacks have shown to be two different quarterbacks. The case can be made for both Hoyer and Cam, that they played in dumpster fires; yet still put up decent stats for what they had to work with at various points of their career. I know circumstance can change things; inflating or deflating stats like a colts football; in the middle of a football game. It still doesn't change their inconsistency, especially from the eye test; let alone from a statistical stand point on the surface.

That's what looking at stats from the surface is, it's the same as the eye test. It's when one pulls out the magnifine glass and does a harder look that one gets to core of the evaluation. Most fans only use the eye test and surface stats.

That is why people think Stidham still has a chance. It is why people still think Hoyer has a chance, and it is most definitely why some people think Newton will get cut. I admitted that I don't like the timing of the signing. 

However, sounding like a broken record, we must see who shows up and plays for the Patriots in the preseason. This is why I like the preseason because people who should be locks become bubble players and people who had almost no chance become a part of the team, make the 53 man roster. That's the importance of the preseason. For Patriots fans, we need this quarterback battle, at this critical juncture of team history.

Remember, At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the name on the front. Most players don't stick around more than three to four years. Hoyer, Newton, and Stidham could all be gone by that time; so it really doesn't make much since to bicker over players.