Extend Newton

[FearNo.1]

He has leadership skill but I don't think he runs much of the Offense. I think they dumb down the offense a lot for him. They basically design this offense to lesser the impact of the QB. I honestly think he prevents this offense from being better.

We have probably the best OL and the best running game in the league this year, even with the lack of talent at the receiving position, any decent QB would be much more productive.

After reading a lot of these comments it is kind of confusing because everyone here seems like a knowledgeable Pats fan, but they don't consider that Cam started learning this offense not even 2 months before the Pats Week 1 game w/ no preseason games. He also missed A LOT of last year pretty much the entire season. Why can't Cam get better in this offense and mature more with time? Maybe it's because you guys have been spoiled the last 20 years with the same Qb every year. But unfortunately, it takes time to mesh with new teammates and learn a complicated passing offense and do A LOT of things you weren't asked to do previously. It takes time to learn. And Belichek being as smart as he is knows this. He understands it's going to take time for Cam to get comfortable especially given the circumstances he's had to work with( Coming off a significant injury, an extremely short offseason, no preseason, new teammates, Covid, not the most talented WR core, etc.). You are going to get rough performances. It isn't going to be nice, flawless, pristine Patriots football. And Bill knows this which is why I believe he will invest in Newton's future with this orgranization.

And I whole heartedly 100% disagree with your last statement. Not many, if any other QB in the NFL has made his living throwing to a bunch of UDFA's. That offensive line was shuffled around a decent bit after the beginning of the season. Harris started the year on IR, Owenenu wasn't even starting until 2-3 weeks ago, Meyers wasn't playing until Edleman went down. Andrews was out 2-3 games, Shaq Mason went on the COVID list so you can't act like this offense was firing on all cylinders and the only thing holding it back was Cam, that just isn't true. This offense has gone through some transitions and it is definitely trending in the right direction. With more time together they could become a really good TOP unit capable of some big plays off the PA passing game. Just have to give it time and trust in Bill's process.

 

[fnordcircle]

Extend Newton

 

[Boomer B]

Because he was old, late season injuries each year. It made no sense to give multiple years to a guy playing at an age no one had done before.

Not quite that simple. If you choose to go year to year and pay him incentive laden contracts instead of guaranteed contracts then you risk losing him, which is what happened. It’s a 2 way street, you can’t expect Brady to just accept a bad deal.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

After reading a lot of these comments it is kind of confusing because everyone here seems like a knowledgeable Pats fan, but they don't consider that Cam started learning this offense not even 2 months before the Pats Week 1 game w/ no preseason games. He also missed A LOT of last year pretty much the entire season. Why can't Cam get better in this offense and mature more with time? Maybe it's because you guys have been spoiled the last 20 years with the same Qb every year. But unfortunately, it takes time to mesh with new teammates and learn a complicated passing offense and do A LOT of things you weren't asked to do previously. It takes time to learn. And Belichek being as smart as he is knows this. He understands it's going to take time for Cam to get comfortable especially given the circumstances he's had to work with( Coming off a significant injury, an extremely short offseason, no preseason, new teammates, Covid, not the most talented WR core, etc.). You are going to get rough performances. It isn't going to be nice, flawless, pristine Patriots football. And Bill knows this which is why I believe he will invest in Newton's future with this orgranization.

And I whole heartedly 100% disagree with your last statement. Not many, if any other QB in the NFL has made his living throwing to a bunch of UDFA's. That offensive line was shuffled around a decent bit after the beginning of the season. Harris started the year on IR, Owenenu wasn't even starting until 2-3 weeks ago, Meyers wasn't playing until Edleman went down. Andrews was out 2-3 games, Shaq Mason went on the COVID list so you can't act like this offense was firing on all cylinders and the only thing holding it back was Cam, that just isn't true. This offense has gone through some transitions and it is definitely trending in the right direction. With more time together they could become a really good TOP unit capable of some big plays off the PA passing game. Just have to give it time and trust in Bill's process.

I hope you are right. Cam is improving in the offense like you say. But Cam's footwork is still unreliable, he rarely makes it to his second read, and his release is more of a windup. So I am not sure those technical issues can be overcome, but I would love to see it happen.

 

[Brewskies]

So if your employer offered to pay you significantly less then another place and wouldn’t commit to you having the job for more then a year you wouldn’t take another offer?

I understand but that is not what happened. In your example I would leave for more money and longevity. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours

 

[Boomer B]

I understand but that is not what happened. In your example I would leave for more money and longevity. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours

Same to you and your family

 

[1960Pats]

I agree. He is a perfect culture fit, has easily won over the locker room after Brady jumped ship and the trajectory of the last three games has been very promising. I'd be ecstatic to have him around as transition QB with whom we can still easily compete, if the two sides can find some middle ground on a 2-3 year deal.

The search for a long term answer will continue in the background anyway. It feels liberating not to be held back by a pure pocket passer anymore but finally arrive in the modern NFL on offense.

It's great that you feel liberated from the burden of Tom Brady, but teams still don't win SB's or playoff games with running QB's. Yes, it's fine to have a QB who can run now and then, like Mahomes and Wilson, but the top priority is still the same as it has always been. Stay in the pocket, read the defense and deliver the ball accurately and on time to the proper receiver.

The fact that there are more running QBs in the pro game now is because the college coaches smartened up and started to do what was best for winning at that level and keeping their jobs, instead of developing pocket passers for the NYFL.

 

[1960Pats]

I completely disagree with that. Yes, Brady left by his own choice if you mean that Bill didn’t cut him or trade him. But in my opinion, that’s about it.

Bill made him so miserable the last 3 years that at the end he decide to leave. Bill by his behaviors towards Brady, pushed him out the door. It is not hard to comprehend.

It is like a relationship where one side wants to breakup but doesn’t want to be the one to do it. So you do everything in your power to make the other person break up. And I think it is exactly what Bill did.

Bill didn’t want Brady anymore but he didn’t want to be responsible also in case Brady like this year played at an elite level

It was very clear that Brady wanted to finish his career as a Patriot and left because he was forced to leave. Since we all knew this was going to be a tough year anyway, it would have been more enjoyable for me if they kept Brady and struggled with him.

 

[1960Pats]

He preferred to have Brady stay making less money this year than he did last year. He didn't make him any decent offer at all. Like I have said since the spring, Bill figured Brady would take crap deals forever and it blew up in his face this year because he had not plan at QB.

Exactly. That was a colossal mistake by Bill.

 

[Ross12]

If you write off the two games post-COVID for Cam (not that you necessarily should, I’m just saying) the rest of his work this season has been solid-to-good. Flashes of possibility here and there. His footwork seems like it needs a little cleaning up still, but with some upgrading to the TE and WR departments and if the defense can improve against the run and in the middle (last week was encouraging) they have a chance to be pretty good with Cam. I think they should wait to see what unfolds by the end of the season and in the draft/free agency, but if we end up with Cam for the next couple years I would be good with it.

 

[luuked]

Yes, it's fine to have a QB who can run now and then, like Mahomes and Wilson, but the top priority is still the same as it has always been. Stay in the pocket, read the defense and deliver the ball accurately and on time to the proper receiver.

You are way to binary when it comes to QBs. The difference is not between a running QB and someone who stays in the pocket but between someone who can run RPOs, bootlegs, designed QB runs and whatnot and someone who can't do any of this. It is the difference between a sack or a throwaway on a broken play or ripping off a 40 yard run. Add in motions and all the other bells and whistles and a modern NFL offense becomes an even bigger stress on any defense on the field as well as in their limited time on the practice field.

It is not a coincidence that Sean Peyton is using Hill as a patchwork to get over the same limitation with Brees.

It seems like people are taking it as some kind of insult against Brady when you simply note that he can't do many of the things at all that modern offenses do routinely. But it is not an insult at all, but just a sign of how long he has been in the league. Disruption and evolution happens at all positions and the reality is that the era of pocket passers is in its final breaths.

There is a good axiom to keep in mind.. better necessarily means different.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

It was very clear that Brady wanted to finish his career as a Patriot and left because he was forced to leave. Since we all knew this was going to be a tough year anyway, it would have been more enjoyable for me if they kept Brady and struggled with him.

I wouldnt have enjoyed watching Brady struggle with offensive production in the final years of an incredible career

 

[BelizePats]

Exactly. That was a colossal mistake by Bill.

This is just Brady fan boy nonsense.

 

[luuked]

Exactly. That was a colossal mistake by Bill.

What mistake ? On offense they are doing as well without him as they did with him last year with similar personnel. Hell, in the red zone they are significantly better. They also saved about 6m-8m in cap space.

I get it from a nostalgic angle but in the end this was a win/win for both sides. Instead of being miserable throwing to Meyers and Izzo he now has an absolutely stacked offense and can be happy hunting more titles. And the Patriots get to move on and do a reset instead of keep trying to patchwork the roster on the fly to keep milking Brady's presence.

 

[p8ryts]

Exactly. That was a colossal mistake by Bill.

I believe Bill was ready to move on from Brady because he realized the team was stagnant and not improving and it was time to pivot. Whether the catalyst for this was Guerrero or Malcolm Brown or not enough receivers, Brady became needy for approval. People always say BB never complimented Brady. BS!!!! I'm reading the Dynasty now and the author used an example as Belichick not praising Brady in response to a reporters question. Yet, BB's response was an articulation of Brady's positive abilities and ending by saying that Brady is the guy he would want at QB. What greater approval can there be than that. We have heard BB repeatedly say complimentary things about Brady and always says there is no one else he would want at QB. Bill seems the same irascible guy and is still consistent in his approach to team building. I'm 100% behind him.

 

[BelizePats]

I believe Bill was ready to move on from Brady because he realized the team was stagnant and not improving and it was time to pivot. Whether the catalyst for this was Guerrero or Malcolm Brown or not enough receivers, Brady became needy for approval. People always say BB never complimented Brady. BS!!!! I'm reading the Dynasty now and the author used an example as Belichick not praising Brady in response to a reporters question. Yet, BB's response was an articulation of Brady's positive abilities and ending by saying that Brady is the guy he would want at QB. What greater approval can there be than that. We have heard BB repeatedly say complimentary things about Brady and always says there is no one else he would want at QB. Bill seems the same irascible guy and is still consistent in his approach to team building. I'm 100% behind him.

Why use facts and logic when you can use fanboy nostalgia?

 

[sb1]

I wouldnt have enjoyed watching Brady struggle with offensive production in the final years of an incredible career

I saw his attitude last year when the offense struggled. Can't say I "enjoyed" it either.

 

[sb1]

Exactly. That was a colossal mistake by Bill.

Moving on was only a colossal mistake if the Patriots were a Super Bowl contender if Brady had stayed.

Nobody worth taking seriously believes that they were. The same result as last year was the ceiling.

 

[captain stone]

There is a good axiom to keep in mind.. better necessarily means different.

Just as different doesn't necessarily mean better.

 

[sb1]

What mistake ? On offense they are doing as well without him as they did with him last year with similar personnel. Hell, in the red zone they are significantly better. They also saved about 6m-8m in cap space.

I get it from a nostalgic angle but in the end this was a win/win for both sides. Instead of being miserable throwing to Meyers and Izzo he now has an absolutely stacked offense and can be happy hunting more titles. And the Patriots get to move on and do a reset instead of keep trying to patchwork the roster on the fly to keep milking Brady's presence.

Maybe they meant not having a plan post Brady was the mistake.

Perhaps. Except I think they did have a plan. That plan was sent packing and plays for SF now.

Going into the season without Brady plan B was to ride things out with great defense, a solid running game and serviceable QB play. So they signed Cam for cheap. The defense unfortunately took a gigantic step backwards from last year for a bunch of different reasons - and only recently they've started getting competent QB play. But it's not like they were in a position to get someone better than Cam. It's pretty clear how the team feels about Stid right now and it's not flattering.