Still holding at No. 1
So far, Cam Newton remains Pats’ starting quarterback
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Cam Newton is still No. 1.
Bill Belichick reiterated his draft night statement that Newton is the Patriots’ starting quarterback, while adding that every player on the team must reestablish his standing every year, leaving open the possibility that the depth chart can change at any position and at any time.
“We’ll take a look at the whole situation. I don’t think you want to evaluate players at any position off of one or two plays, or maybe a day,’’ the coach said Saturday when asked about the quarterback competition. “So, from a consistency standpoint that’s always important and obviously production. So, hopefully those things will be good and I’m sure it’ll be a hard decision. We’ll see how it goes. Let them play and try to do what we feel like is best for the team based on their performance.”
When asked if he had a time in mind to name a starter, Belichick reaffirmed his commitment to Newton, calling him the “starting quarterback.”
Newton has led off all team periods through four training camp practices, with rookie Mac Jones following.
Following a sharp day for Newton and Jones, the signal-callers struggled some on Saturday before both finished with a flourish. Unofficially, Newton completed 13 of 21 passes in competitive team drills. He did show off nice arm strength and accuracy during some individual drills, hitting on a couple of long passes, though there were no defenders.
Jones was 12 of 17, including a 4-for-4 finishing period that was his best of the week. Newton hit on 3 of 5 throws in his final period — another in a long line of red area sessions this week. His first pass, intended for Jonnu Smith, fell incomplete, though Adrian Phillips may have been guilty of pass interference.
Newton’s last two passes were highlights. First, he hit Damien Harris on a nifty end zone fade, and then he fired a frozen rope to Jakobi Meyer,s who held on despite tight, handsy coverage from Jonathan Jones.
Jackson’s approach the same: Heading into a contract year, Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson’s mind-set remains the same.
“I approach it the same way I did my rookie year, just grinding, getting better,” Jackson said Saturday. “Play the best I can.”
Jackson, who is entering his fourth NFL season, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the year. This past offseason, he was a restricted free agent and ended up returning to New England by signing his second-round tender, worth $3.384 million.
Jackson signed his tender on April 16, despite having until April 23 to field offers from other organizations. He said Saturday he did not hear from any interested teams.
Had another club wanted to sign Jackson, it would have cost a second-round draft pick in addition to a lucrative new deal reflective of Jackson’s value. The Patriots would have had the opportunity to match any offer.
The Patriots also could have negotiated a contract extension with Jackson, locking him up beyond the 2021 season. Instead, Jackson will test the open market next offseason.
“I had a feeling they were going to tender me,” the 25-year-old said. “I wasn’t expecting no contract extension yet.”
It doesn’t sound as though there are hard feelings regarding the situation.
“It ends up being another year to get better and improve myself, actually,” Jackson said. “That’s how I look at it. Nothing negative. All positive.”
As for whether he would like to remain with the Patriots long term?
‘We’ll discuss that later,” he said. “Right now, my focus is on training camp and getting better.”
Jackson has carved out a major role in New England’s secondary since signing with the team as an undrafted rookie out of Maryland in 2018. Through three seasons — he played in all 16 games each of the past two — he’s logged 17 interceptions, 30 passes defensed, and 100 tackles.
“J.C. came in here unknown,” Belichick said Thursday. “He earned a spot on the roster, earned playing time. He has continued to work hard and develop. I’d say his role has increased from Year 2 to Year 3, and it’s kind of stayed about the same since then.”
Family time: After Friday’s practice, Matthew Slater approached the ropedoff area for players’ friends and families, stopped about six feet short, and waved to two of his children. Because of the NFL’s health and safety protocols, players and their guests have been unable to mingle on the field following practice in the same way they have in years past.
But the restrictions were lifted Saturday, which meant Slater and his kids were among those scattering the field after practice, enjoying the sun. Elsewhere, linebacker Dont’a Hightower lifted his 1-year-old son, Grayson, into the air, defensive tackle Lawrence Guy swung his 4-year-old daughter, Adriana, in circles, and McCourty had his 4-year-old daughter, Londyn, hugging his leg.