To start Trotta is convinced that Boomer must have something against Newton for not knighting him the heir to the franchise and dynasty.
Boomer picked Stidham as the starter and recently explained why he didn't think Cam would have success as the starter. Newton has since been named the starter and captain. He has also received an unusual amount of praise from Belichick, with several writers and analysts having their own speculations as to why.
Here's a quote from Trotta, "The former MVP has since been named the starting gunslinger and a team captain. However, that didn’t stop Esiason from not only proclaiming that he still doesn’t love Newton’s fit with the Patriots, but that the reigning AFC East champs are also a team in the midst of a ‘major’ rebuild, which we’re not hearing from anyone else."
Trotta goes on later in the article saying that by refusing to trade the defensive player of the year and by signing Newton that the Patriots aren't in rebuild mode.
WEEI's Rob Bradford had this to say about the Captian Position, "And does anyone think Edelman won't be more of a locker room presence than a good chunk of those wearing the 'C' on their jerseys? Of course not. And because his voice is just as powerful and impactful even without the title, that immediately devalues the captain role."
Bradford calls captains, "Organization Eye Wash" and says "But let's start re-imagining leadership while finally not worrying about who is getting the 'C' on their varsity jacket.
A real leader would want it that way."
Basically, being named a captain doesn't mean a damn thing. It's for show. Maybe it's to put it on for the media or maybe it's to put it on for the captians to boost their egos.
Let's look at the rebuild for a second. The Patriots held a quarterback competition in this August. Why because the only quarterback on the roster from 2019, was their fourth round quarterback. Newton is coming off back to back injury seasons, with little time in the Patriots system. Plus the teams that Newton and Hoyer played for in 2019 thought they were expendable or they would still be on those rosters.
The Patriots had a competition for receiver, releasing Sanu and seeing Marquis Lee opt out. Harry, Edelman, Olszewski, and Meyers were all part of one of the worst, if not the worst receiving units of 2019. They had issues with drops and getting seperation.
At tight end the Patriots have two rookie tight ends with Izzo being the only returning player from the 2019 unit. Cannon opted out , the Patriots have no clue at right tackle, and are still holding a competition for their depth.
The interior defensive line and entire linebacking unit has holes. Danny Shelton and all four boogie men linebackers are gone. The Patriots are trying to find their replacements with edge rushers, safeties and ragtag players. It doesn't stop there as Bill is still trying to figure out who his kicker is.
That definitely sounds like a rebuild. Is it a major rebuild? That's all based on one's opinion of the players in the roster. Some call it just a "little retooling".
Trotta is upset that Esiason isn't jumping on to the Newton bandwagon due to Cam being named starter and captain. Trotta is also upset that the former quarterback suggests that Newton won the job due to injury.
Boomer said this on the Greg Hill show, “The bottom line is Stidham got hurt, Cam got in there and they are paying him no money whatsoever. I don’t think he’s that accurate on third down. I think if he turns the football over that is when a change could come.”
When Boomer spoke recently, he also said Cam "is the better athlete but not necessarily the better quarterback." I have read too many articles on the quarterback battle.
Prior to getting hurt, Stidham was the more accurate quarterback. When Stidham started throwing interceptions and then his injury was revealed, the team said it was due to not being able to have proper throwing mechanic including planting his legs. There was frustration that Stidham hid his injury for three days.
Newton did acquire about a weeks worth of reps. During those two weeks, Newton was "inaccurate and inconsistent" , failing to hit passes he should and having dropped interceptions from throwing the ball too hard. Reporters were saying none of the quarterbacks were doing anything to separate themselves.
By the time Stidham was a full go, Newton had spent almost a week with the starting unit, getting twice the snaps. Then the Patriots had their worst passing drill session, with Newton only completing 46% of his passes, well below both Stidham and Hoyer.
Evan Lazar went as far as saying, "7 on 7 drills, accuracy and so on isn't Newton's game. His game is running around , beating you with his legs and arms strength."
Trotta wasn't done trying to attack Boomer Esiason, writing "If Cam in New England was such a terrible fit, why would a former NFL executive believe that the franchise is already considering offering him a contract extension? We get that Newton has to prove he can stay healthy, but the lack of respect he’s received from media loudmouths (especially Esiason) since he arrived for camp has been mostly unwarranted."
First, it's easy for "former executives" to talk out their rear, just as easy as it it for former players. So it doesn't matter what a former executive believes. It is true Newton has to prove he can stay healthy but Newton has also to prove he can play consistently well.
Newton has been inconsistent his entire career. Like every other year he's been up and down. He's only been on three winning teams and only had three seasons at 60% or higher. Look at his 2017 and 2018 season, and then take your beer goggles off and look at how he performed in camp. Don't forget, at one point Bill had Newton run a lap for fumbling .
On ESPN's get up Dan Graziano said, “…All you’re hearing is positives from what they’re saying publicly and behind the scenes about how Cam Newton has brought energy, about how hard he has worked, about how he and the coaching staff have meshed together. It’s the kind of thing that makes you skeptical. When you hear people talk this glowingly about a situation like this that’s so new, you wonder are they trying to hide something?"
Leaving Patriots Wire's Isaiah Houde asking "does he have a point?"
Just because Newton won the job doesn't mean he's the better quarterback. As a pure passer in camp and over his career, Newton has showed he can be equal to or worse than Hoyer. Let me repeat that. Newton has shown he can be a worse pure passer than Hoyer.
Newton's strong point is running the football; you know just like James White, Sony Michel, and Rex Burkhead. Newton is a 6'5" old school H-back who just happens to have an arm. That's what makes him dangerous because he's causing teams to come up and play him as a running back.
The Patriots offense is designed to to work better with a mobile quarterback. Even during the Brady years, it was handicapped with Tom Brady. Imagine if Brady had Stidham's mobility. I was hoping the Patriots would acquire Tyrod Taylor or RG3 this offseason because they're passers and I still would take them over Cam's athleticism.
Boomer is right to think the Patriots might not do well with Cam Newton in 2020. Only fools have crowned Newton the new Goat before he takes one meaningful snap in a Patriots uniform. That's not saying Newton cannot win comeback player of the year, it's saying like a coin; there's more than one possibility. Hope for the best and brace for the worst.
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