Patriots haven’t ruled out re-signing Cam Newton in 2021

The Patriots have not ruled out re-signing quarterback Cam Newton, a source told the Herald.

Newton struggled mightily as a passer during his debut season in New England, where he started 15 games and hoped to revitalize his career. The Pats ranked among the worst passing teams in the league with Newton at the helm, though they surrounded him with poor weapons, and the former MVP powered their offense to becoming one of the NFL’s top rushing attacks. The Patriots averaged 20.4 points per game and are expected to be heavily involved in the quarterback market this offseason.

After Sunday’s season finale, Newton, declined to share where he expects to play next.

“I know where my heart’s at. I know the things, who I am. But as far as that, I can’t really speak on it right now,” said Newton, who agreed to a 1-year contract last June. “But just my whole time here in New England has been a blessing. I’ve learned so much about myself, about great teammates, unbelievable coaching. Yeah, so I just see how it goes, go from there.”

Newton finished the season having completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,657 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions, plus a dozen rushing touchdowns. He ranked among the worst quarterbacks in the league in yards per attempt, yards per game and turnover rate.

Last week, amid an intensely reflective press conference, Newton said his greatest regret was he didn’t have more time in New England. His 1-year contract was for the veteran minimum, and during the season, he repeatedly referenced an ongoing learning curve with the team’s playbook. Newton reiterated those thoughts Sunday, saying the season would have gone differently if he’d been afforded more time to learn the Pats’ system.

“Without a doubt,” Newton said. “I think one of the main things for me this year was a small but yet important thing for me, just to finish healthy. I think that was one of the most frustrating things for me, was that I was healthy but still not getting the results that I was yearning for. Through it all, my shoulder held up, foot held up, mental held up. I had nicks and bruises, but who doesn’t have any nicks and bruises in the NFL?”

Jarrett Stidham is the Patriots’ only quarterback currently under contract for the 2021 season.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/38RQSXK