What If the Newton Herd is right?

The Patriots re-signed Brian Hoyer and everyone in Patriots'nation went nutz. Not because he was going to start but because of what he meant for the quarterback room and depth chart.

Now of you read my blogs, you know I believe that the Hoyer signing was made because Mac Jones impressed during rookie minicamp enough to put Newton on the bubble next to Stidham. However, let's say I am wrong. 

If I am wrong and the Cam Newton bandwagon is right, then Jarrett Stidham is on the block by himself. Stidham had a lot of love and praise going into the 2020 season but after dealing with majority of the things Cam faced during the 2020 off season and losing the starting job by default due to injury, Stidham never seemed to regain favor with Belichick.

So if Hoyer put Stidham on the bubble, it means Stidham has to do what he was expected to do in 2020. Beat out Cam Newton for the starting job because unlike 2020, Hoyer is not there to be the number two guy on the roster, Jones has that spot locked up. Can Stidham do that, can he beat out Newton?

With missing the critical development during the 2020 offseason, probably not but it's not impossible. He still had a lot of work heading into the 2021 offseason. And he continued to meet with a quarterback coach after the season.

Stidham has to show urgency, organizing "Patriots west" is not enough. And it doesn't appear having Robert Kraft as a fan means anything. Kraft appears set to let Belichick call the shots after seemingly putting him on blast before the draft.

Stidham looked comparable to Newton as a passer in 2020. Unfortunately that was Cam at his worst but Stidham also showed flashes of potential. However, the Patriots passing offense did seem more efficient when Stidham was on the field stinking it up. And Newton was a backup grade passer in 2020, saved only by his legs. Which is why Cam was between the 27-32 quarterback in the NFL in 2020

If Houston doesn't go after Stidham via trade, Stidham has to turn those flashes of potential into a raging inferno over the next few months or he could be a cutdown casualty. Competition in business is supposed to bring out the best, well football is business. Let's see who elevates their game.