Belichick falsely claims league’s breakthrough cases ‘pretty high’
Denies reason behind cutting Newton was vax status
Did Cam Newton being unvaccinated factor into his release from the Patriots?
Pats coach Bill Belichick was definitive in his reply Wednesday.
“No,” Belichick said during his morning press conference.
Newton was released Tuesday morning in the most shocking move of the NFL’s cutdown day. He missed five days of training camp, including three practices, after breaking the league’s COVID-19 protocols for players who are not fully vaccinated two weeks ago. His release coincided with first-round rookie Mac Jones being named the Patriots’ new starting quarterback.
Belichick did not mention Newton by name during his press conference Wednesday.
This summer, Jones established himself as the superior passer in practices and preseason games. Newton started all three preseason games, but turned the ball over in Sunday’s finale at the Giants and led the offense to a lower rate of scoring drives over the entire preseason than Jones did.
In response to another question about Newton’s vaccination status, Belichick pivoted to discussing vaccine effectiveness within the league: “You guys keep talking about that, but I would just point out that — I don’t know what the number is, you guys can look it up, you have the access to a lot of information — the number of players and coaches and staff members that have been infected by COVID in training camp who have been vaccinated is a pretty high number.”
According to NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills, only 68 positive results surfaced from a group of 7,190 tested individuals between Aug. 1 and Aug. 21. Unvaccinated players tested positive at a rate seven times higher than those who were vaccinated.
The NFL has mandated all coaches, executives and high-ranking support staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 this season. The percentage of players who have received at least one shot hit 92.7% last week, according to the league. Including players, coaches, trainers, support staff and front office officials, several thousand league employees are now fully vaccinated, and there have been no reported cases of a fully vaccinated player being hospitalized with the virus.
According to CDC data released last month, the vaccines are effective at reducing symptoms for people who experience a rare breakthrough case. Only .004% of fully vaccinated individuals have required a hospitalization due to a COVID-19 breakthrough.
Why did Pats choose rookie K?
Undrafted rookie kicker Quinn Nordin won the second-most consequential position battle in Patriots training camp this summer, beating out incumbent veteran Nick Folk for the starting job.
He survived despite going a combined 10-of-15 on field goals and extra points in the preseason, including a disastrous showing at Philadelphia in Week 2. Against the Eagles, Nordin went 2-of-4 on extra points and 1-of-2 on field goals. According to special teams coordinator Cam Achord, Nordin’s ability to rebound from that performance is a major reason he’s stuck around.
“He’s really showed (an ability to) bounce back. He was really competitive,” Achord said. “Obviously, it was a great competition throughout that. He’s got to continue to improve that consistency and keep showing it, but definitely being able to bounce back — he had the one rough outing and then came back and had a solid performance the other day. That’s the big thing: you continue to get better.”
A week after bombing against the Eagles, Nordin went a combined 3-of-4 on field goals and extra points in the Patriots’ preseason finale against the Giants, missing only from 54 yards. Earlier, he went 14-of14 between two in-stadium practices that preceded the team’s preseason opener versus Washington. Nordin made all three field goals in that contest, including a 50-yarder, but also missed an extra point.
Folk dealt with an unspecified injury throughout most of camp and made his only field goal of the preseason, a 41-yard attempt last Sunday. It’s possible, despite Nordin boasting a stronger leg, the 36-yearold could return if the rookie struggles early this year.
“A rookie is going to continue to improve usually … where a veteran, or a guy that’s has been here a few years, you know what they’re going to be. So you have to take that into account,” Achord said. “Is that the end game? Is that the only thing that matters? Absolutely not. But I think that’s definitely one of the things you have to consider when you’re evaluating younger guys, older guys — where are these guys and where could these guys end up being and where can they be?”
RBs coach: Pats’ backfield is special
All signs point to the Patriots operating a run-heavy offense in 2021.
They boast one of the NFL’s largest and most powerful offensive lines.
They’re starting a rookie quarterback.
And their backfield might be more talented than it’s ever been, according to running backs coach Ivan Fears.
“This year’s group is probably as deep as it’s ever been, as far as talent level goes and as far as guys making plays and being productive in the preseason,” Fears said during a video press conference Wednesday.”
Damien Harris is expected to lead the Patriots in carries this season, after supplanting Sony Michel as the team’s starter last year. The Pats traded Michel to the Rams last week, once it became clear fourthround rookie Rhamondre Stevenson and J.J. Taylor could pick up the slack behind Harris. Both starred in the preseason.
Fears has been particularly high on Taylor, a 5-foot-6 rusher who made the team in his second season after going undrafted out of Arizona.
“When he goes to the line, they can’t find him,” Fears said. “So that makes it exciting for him, he gets some plays that guys don’t get, because of his size. But he’s strong, he makes people miss, he’s explosive, he’s got great vision. The kid’s got some stuff going on.”
The Patriots also rostered veterans James White and Brandon Bolden through Tuesday’s final cuts. White is expected to reassume his role as the team’s third-down back, while Bolden serves in a backup role offensively and as a main cog on special teams.