Cam to the Pats Is an AFC Game Changer
Creator: Grant Halverson | Credit: Getty Images | Copyright: 2019 Grant Halverson
If you ever actually believed the Patriots would put all the chips in on Jarrett Stidham, you shouldn’t be allowed to talk football for a year. The skepticism many of us had beforehand has now been confirmed, as free agent QB Cam Newton and the New England Patriots agreed to a one-year deal late Sunday.
Historically, Newton is one of the most underrated and unappreciated franchise QBs the league has ever seen. In fact, the team he lead to four postseason appearances, a franchise record 15 win season and its second Super Bowl appearance had the audacity to leave him out of a tweet about the best players in franchise history. When you really dig into, much of the hesitance around Cam is shrewd in false narratives from the media.
Newton remained on the market so long because of concerns about his health. He managed to play in only two games in 2019 because of a Lisfranc injury, while his 2018 season was marred by an injury to the shoulder. Going into that Thursday night game against Pittsburgh in 2018, Newton had the Panthers sitting at 6-2. A relentless pass rush and strip sack from Steelers defender T.J. Watt derailed a once promising season.
The caveat to all of this is if Newton is healthy, but it’s entirely realistic even that question is overblown. Yes, Newton missed 14 games last season, and struggled down the stretch in 2018 from an injury only he and the team knew was as serious as it was. But he still suited up, managed to complete 67.9% of his passes, and threw 24 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. Prior to 2018, Newton had only missed three games in his entire career. Lions QB Matthew Stafford, who has built a reputation as Mr. Durable, missed half of last season with an injury as well. He’s a year older than Newton, yet no one is discussing his return to play with any concerns around health.
Newton’s signing instantly catapults the Patriots back to title contenders. I had them at #20 in my initial power rankings, but they’ll be shooting up the charts without a doubt in the next installment. After all, even with an over the hill Brady, the Patriots still managed to win the AFC East last season. While the Bills are more talented than most of the national media give them credit for, they still have limitations at the QB position. By all accounts, Newton looks like he may be in the best physical shape of his life, has an offensive coordinator that knows how to utilize his gifts, and has the best receiving corps he’s ever had in his career.
Baltimore and Kansas City remain favorites in the AFC, but a three team race (with the Colts added in) looks like a four team show now. The Patriots were destined for post Tom Brady mediocrity, but with Newton now in tow, maybe not so much.