Newton gives Pats options
If healthy, quarterback gives creative McDaniels more choices
The attribute most essential to Bill Belichick’s enduring brilliance is his endless curiosity about what can be done with 11 players on a football field. Though he is the oldest coach in the NFL, Belichick also has one of its most agile, malleable minds. He never falls behind trends and often sets them. His only constraints are the sport’s rules and his personnel.
The first hope of any football fan should be that the state of the country amid the novel coronavirus pandemic allows for a season. The second should be that Cam
Newton is healthy again, at least an approximation of the player he was at his peak. The marriage of Newton and Belichick, which dropped out of the sky Sunday night, could produce some of the most fascinating, creative offense the sport has seen.
The Patriots signed Newton to a one-year, incentive-heavy contract – a no-risk, immense-reward deal that gives the Patriots a singular talent to replace Tom Brady. The Patriots adore unproven second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham and, from what some familiar with the team’s thinking have said, would have been comfortable with him taking over. But they could not pass on the opportunity to acquire Newton at such a low cost, and chances are the rest of the league will regret that it allowed it to happen.
Poor health is the only reason Newton was available. He won the 2015 MVP award, led the Carolina Panthers to an NFC Championship and became the best player in franchise history. He delivered on the promise he showed when the Panthers made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. He’s still just 31. He should be a franchise cornerstone, not a late-June bargain-bin find.
But Newton’s health has undermined him.
“Yet all of us recognize that the health, safety, and well-being of our players, fans, and entire community are paramount, but we will keep the faith. This may not be how the story ends.
“We continue to speak with the Mayor of Pawtucket, the Hon. Donald R. Grebien, and other public officials, about the uses this summer – and beyond – of McCoy Stadium,” Steinberg added.
As part of Tuesday’s press release, the PawSox stated that they plan to explore ways to have a fitting farewell to 78-year-old McCoy Stadium. The club is still targeting to open the 2021 season at their new home in Worcester.
During a media tour of Polar Park on Monday, developer Janet Marie Smith stated “until we have a new plan, that’s our plan” when asked if next April’s target date to open the new ballpark remains realistic after losing a month-plus of construction time due to COVID-19.
This year marks the first in the 137-year history of the International League (founded in 1884) that no games will be played.
“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “While this is a sad day for many, this announcement removes the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season and allows our teams to begin planning for an exciting 2021 season of affordable family entertainment.”
Stated International League President Randy Mobley, “Until just a few hours ago [on Tuesday afternoon], the League and its 14-member teams continued to plan and prepare for the possibility of playing a 60-game shortened season. Due to the many COVID-19 related challenges that would accompany staffing team rosters for a two-month season, Major League Baseball has now advised that they will not be assigning players to the teams of Minor League Baseball in 2020. While we continue to pray for the health and well-being of those within our communities, our focus immediately turns to planning and preparing to welcome fans and sponsors back into our fabulous ballparks next April.
During what will now become an extended off-season from Triple-A Baseball, I encourage fans to stay tuned in to activities planned by their local team.”
As Major League Baseball gears up for its season, the Boston Red Sox have discussed using McCoy Stadium as the home of some of their workouts. Schedules and details will be announced. The PawSox are also holding out hope of resuming its “Dining on the Diamond” on-field restaurant service that was sold out during each weekend in June.
“So many high school and college players have loved playing on this field through the years, and we will see if there is a way to continue to provide that opportunity,” said Steinberg. “We have also loved welcoming so many Rhode Island families to enjoy Dining on the Diamond, and we will see if we can continue to offer that experience as well.”
As for honoring a ballpark that has supplied five decades’ worth of baseball moments with some semblance of actual baseball activity before the operation crosses state lines, the PawSox on Tuesday didn’t flat-out say that’s all she wrote as far as McCoy Stadium is concerned. Still, when the preference all along has been to settle into their new digs in time for the 2021 season, it’s hard to see the team tweaking its plans just so that McCoy could receive a proper sendoff.
“You want an emotional and beautiful sendoff whenever the time is right,” said Steinberg during a recent interview. “You want to thank McCoy for being a house of memories.”
Fans with tickets to 2020 PawSox home games will be contacted by the club’s ticket office and receive personal attention regarding a variety of options, including refunds.