The Cam Newton experiment did not go well for the Patriots, who are coaching their first losing season since 2000, the year before Tom Brady took over as the starting quarterback of New England.
But what if it’s not over yet?
Newton is a free agent after playing on a one-year contract in 2020, and the assumption is that the Patriots will be looking for an upgrade at QB. But when asked on NFL Live this week for a ‘brave prediction’ ahead of the off-season, Keyshawn Johnson suggested New England could bring Newton back for the 2021 campaign.
“I’ll have to go to New England with Cam Newton,” Johnson said. ‘I know a lot of people think the experiment went south. But it does not seem to me. It looks like they’ll try to find some other playmakers to build him, possibly because they’re going out and drafting, getting a young quarterback, which means you’ll reload your entire team to run the next five. six, seven years. Does (Bill) Belichick really have that long to sit around and wait?
‘And if they get Cam right, there’s no pandemic; there is a real off-season, a real training camp and not a cut-off training camp, I think that is my bold prediction. ‘
It’s hard to say if it’s’ fat, as Newton’s market may not be as robust after an overwhelming 2020. Plus, the Patriots certainly like what the 31-year-old has to offer in terms of leadership.
The Patriots probably need to set their sights a little higher, especially if they plan to use their surplus of salary constraint space with a view to returning to the dispute in 2021.
New England have already been linked with a number of quarterbacks, most of whom will be much more attractive than just making it back to Brady after a 7-9 final in the first season of the Patriots.
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