QB position in spotlight for the Dolphins-Patriots season opener
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Bill Belichick and Brian Flores have built their NFL coaching reputations on the defensive side of the ball.
But it’s what will happen offensively for both teams that will be in the spotlight as the Patriots and Dolphins open the 2020 season.
New England’s offense is expected to look different with Cam Newton at the helm following Tom Brady’s exit in free agency. Miami is turning to veteran coordinator and coach Chan Gailey to revitalize its attack with top draft pick Tua Tagovailoa waiting in the wings behind veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Newton hasn’t tried to hide his giddiness since officially being selected as the starter at the end of training camp. After nine seasons in Carolina, including two final years disrupted by injuries, he said joining the Patriots is “a match made in heaven.”
“Excitement level is on 1,000 (percent),” Newton said. “I’ve been away from football really for a full year — 16 games. … So I haven’t really had this whole process for a long time now.”
That doesn’t mean he’ll be nervous though.
“I don’t get butterflies. I give them,” Newton said with a smile.
Fitzpatrick will start for the Dolphins on Sunday. But even he has described himself as a “placeholder” while the Dolphins groom Tagovailoa, who is working his way back from the hip injury that limited him to just nine games in his final collegiate season at Alabama.
Still, Fitzpatrick acknowledged that “it means a ton” to be the Week 1 starter.
“It’s not something that I take for granted,” he said. “I’ve kind of gone back and
MAKING HISTORY
Newton will become the first Black player in Patriots history to be the Week 1 starter at quarterback. Jacoby Brissett became the first Black player to start for New England in 2016, when he started Week 2 while Tom Brady was serving his