If Cam is returning, we need a better QB room around him.

[RIpats88]

What’s frightening me is that I really think that Bill loves Cam and think he has his guy and will stop looking for QB. Brown and Cam are 1 year deal. I have a feeling that Bill is year to year has no business rebuilding until he retires because he still think he can win now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs old middle of the pack veteran in free agency.

Personally I think this has more to do with Free Agency and the draft.

There's a distinct possibility you miss out on all the FA QBs and have to sell potential receivers and tight ends on playing with Stidham for a year. At least cam newton commands respect.

At his low cap price, bill still could sign a trubisky or Mariota for 10million to compete with cam if he wants, or sit back and see how the Jimmy G situation unfolds.

Also, if the Patriots intend to move up in the draft and draft a Fields. He isn't going to play this year, so cam newton is a good mentor in the QB room. Maybe bill is looking at going to a rookie in 2022 so figures he can rebuild the roster, let a guy learn and go with cam for a year.

 

[venecol]

People really think a 3.5million contract means Bill won't draft a guy and he's been promised to start?

Even Jeff Howe said cam is not guaranteed to start and the Patriots are looking at all options in the draft. A rookie like fields isn't going to play his first year anyway.

Jeff Howe is just desperately trying not to lose the entire pats fan Athletic readership. What else is he supposed to say?

Why is it such a problem that Cam is the starting QB? Why isn't there more trust in Bill (#IBBWT)?

Despite 65% of the NE fans not agreeing with this decision, the die has been cast. This is the FAcy move. Only other possible move is to bring back the Hoyster for another great value signing.

If and when Mariota gets cut, maybe Bill tries to bring him in "at great value." He'll have competition though and I doubt Bill brings in another QB at a starting salary to compete with a backup that could win. Why would Mariota agree to that?

Even if he goes for a QB in the 1st round, something I doubt and history shows he's more likely to trade #15 down, the rook won't be starting.

 

[RIpats88]

Jeff Howe is just desperately trying not to lose the entire pats fan Athletic readership. What else is he supposed to say?

Why is it such a problem that Cam is the starting QB? Why isn't there more trust in Bill (#IBBWT)?

Despite 65% of the NE fans not agreeing with this decision, the die has been cast. This is the FAcy move. Only other possible move is to bring back the Hoyster for another great value signing.

If and when Mariota gets cut, maybe Bill tries to bring him in "at great value." He'll have competition though and I doubt Bill brings in another QB at a starting salary to compete with a backup that could win. Why would Mariota agree to that?

Even if he goes for a QB in the 1st round, something I doubt and history shows he's more likely to trade #15 down, the rook won't be starting.

Why is Bill scouting the top QBs if he's gonna trade down? And of course the rookie won't be starting. That's not bills MO. A guy like fields might benefit from sitting for a year.

Also, it doesn't matter what we think. Fans are going to complain whomever we sign. It matters what the internal evaluation say on cam. Maybe I'm just a glass half full guy. But I'm hoping bringing him back means maybe they think last year's struggles were more due to the talent around him than cam newton.

At the end of the day. If bill trades up and gets his guy I can live with a year of Cam. And be hopeful he performs better with a more talented roster

If bill doesn't draft a guy and Jimmy G or no one else is signed. Them I'm going to start to worry.

 

[Kontradiction]

I am fine with being tight against the cap after a 8 year run of 8 division wins 7 afccg 5 sbs and 3 Lombardis.
I can live with risky drafting that didn’t work out while that was happening. I totally understand it. The criticism of the drafting is overstated, but I could give a crap if you have bad drafts if you win SBs.

I’ll have to wait until the other shoe drops before I judge his critical this horrible decision was.

The tight cap and crap decision making in the draft is exactly why you’re staring at two years of Cam Newton instead of two more years of Tom Brady and competing for the AFC (while probably winning another Super Bowl in 2019). But whatever floats your boat.

 

[venecol]

Why is Bill scouting the top QBs if he's gonna trade down? And of course the rookie won't be starting. That's not bills MO. A guy like fields might benefit from sitting for a year.

Also, it doesn't matter what we think. Fans are going to complain whomever we sign. It matters what the internal evaluation say on cam. Maybe I'm just a glass half full guy. But I'm hoping bringing him back means maybe they think last year's struggles were more due to the talent around him than cam newton.

At the end of the day. If bill trades up and gets his guy I can live with a year of Cam. And be hopeful he performs better with a more talented roster

If bill doesn't draft a guy and Jimmy G or no one else is signed. Them I'm going to start to worry.

Honest question: with the way the team looked last year, all the holes, lack of talent, no franchise QB, etc. did you expect to make it deep into the playoffs this season? Even accounting for all of the available cap space?

Why can't we improve the talent and depth of the team so we are just a QB away from contending again? Is that so wrong? Is being patient for 2 to 3 years after 6 SBs asking for too much?

What if Bill has already decided that there isn't a QB in the NFL reasonably available that he believes to be the "guy." We're not getting Watson or Wilson (price is too high). Why waste any more time on this? Grab Cam who you know to be a team player and leader and move on. Maybe he thinks that with better talent, a better defense, he can win 3 to 4 more games, showing improvement w/o having to sink $15M-$20M on a JAG QB.

 

[Ring 6]

The tight cap and crap decision making in the draft is exactly why you’re staring at two years of Cam Newton instead of two more years of Tom Brady and competing for the AFC (while probably winning another Super Bowl in 2019). But whatever floats your boat.

Im good with the winning and the consequences.

 

[Kontradiction]

Im good with the winning and the consequences.

Okay. So basically IBBIT. So stop complaining about Cam, assume he’s just a veteran presence, and wait to see how the draft shakes out. IMO, it seems very likely we’re going to a trade up into the top 10 for a QB.

 

[venecol]

Okay. So basically IBBIT. So stop complaining about Cam, assume he’s just a veteran presence, and wait to see how the draft shakes out. IMO, it seems very likely we’re going to a trade up into the top 10 for a QB.

What makes you believe this? Is it because of the Cam signing?
History shows it's more likely he trades down. I think he's only traded up 4 times in the 1st round and 3 of the 4 picks were for defensive players (Warren, High, Jones) .

 

[Ring 6]

Okay. So basically IBBIT. So stop complaining about Cam, assume he’s just a veteran presence, and wait to see how the draft shakes out. IMO, it seems very likely we’re going to a trade up into the top 10 for a QB.

No not at all. “Basically” I assess the job Belichick has done and I am happy with it. That doesn’t mean his next move or series of moves will be good or that everything he has ever done was right.
But the only result I care about is winning. If you win you did well no matter how you did it and I see no value in parsing which decisions are good or bad, every nfl decision maker makes many of each.
It’s a job that has a scoreboard. I see no value in trying to outargue the scoreboard.

 

[Ring 6]

What makes you believe this? Is it because of the Cam signing?
History shows it's more likely he trades down. I think he's only traded up 4 times in the 1st round and 3 of the 4 picks were for defensive players (Warren, High, Jones) .

The only thing history shows is that what belichick does is specific to the situation he is in.
Using “history” to predict how he will act with 70 million in cap space when he had never had 70 mill is a huge misunderstanding of how to apply history.
Same thing with finding a qb when you don’t have one.
There are no precedents for these situations they will be set now, the first time they exist.

 

[venecol]

The only thing history shows is that what belichick does is specific to the situation he is in.
Using “history” to predict how he will act with 70 million in cap space when he had never had 70 mill is a huge misunderstanding of how to apply history.
Same thing with finding a qb when you don’t have one.
There are no precedents for these situations they will be set now, the first time they exist.

What does $70 million in cap space have to do with the draft?

 

[Ring 6]

What does $70 million in cap space have to do with the draft?

They are 2 different examples. You have been using “history” to predict what will happen in free agency too.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

I think it is a good signing for the reason that during Cam’s first 4 games this board was going crazy about resigning Cam to a long term deal immediately before his value gets to high,
Then he showed his flaws with the cast of misfits he was throwing to. I do know Cam has a long release throwing motion which is alarming. But we need some backup plan if our intentions are JG or a draft pick. We need this to attract any WR’s and TE’s in FA. If anyone thinks that FA’s would be more enticed to come here with Mariotta or MT at QB then you have way more blind fate than me.. There teams dumped them because they have flaws and they would cost a heck of a lot more.
We are in a bind at QB right now. 5 million to bridge this gap and possibly use Cam as a backup at that cost is fine by me. He could be used in game on short yardage and goal line situations.
If JG does not come available then trade up in the draft. In the meantime lets gather some talent with the cap space we have.

 

[sean10mm]

If Cam is returning, we need a better QB room around ahead of him on the depth chart.​

If Cam is a "bridge QB" while a rookie gets up to speed that's fine. You have a vet everybody likes who had success in the league before, even if he's washed now. If he's still got Stidham and Hoyer behind him in 2021 that's a barfaroo from me though.

 

[venecol]

They are 2 different examples. You have been using “history” to predict what will happen in free agency too.

The only history in FAcy I used was AB (After Brady) history, the last year, which is very relevant.

 

[mgteich]

What makes you believe this? Is it because of the Cam signing?
History shows it's more likely he trades down. I think he's only traded up 4 times in the 1st round and 3 of the 4 picks were for defensive players (Warren, High, Jones) .

Belichick has never needed a franchise quarterback.

So, any discussion of past history of trading up or down is irrelevant.

 

[Joey007]

When did you see Stidham? I don’t disagree that he might not be a viable QB but I base that on Belichick’s decisions on his playing time and bringing back Newton, I haven’t seen Stidham play enough to base any decision on his play.

Guy threw INT’s every time he’s gotten into the game.

I’ve yet to see one positive play out of him even in the limited action he’s played.

 

[Ring 6]

The only history in FAcy I used was AB (After Brady) history, the last year, which is very relevant.

A) you have consistently referenced past years of free agency and said they won’t spend on top players this year
B) last year they had no cap space. It is not at all relevant to what they will do with cap space.

You are saying the equivalent of the poor college student who eats spaghetti and butter for dinner will still eat spaghetti and butter when he is making $300,000 a year.

 

[Ring 6]

I think it is a good signing for the reason that during Cam’s first 4 games this board was going crazy about resigning Cam to a long term deal immediately before his value gets to high,
Then he showed his flaws with the cast of misfits he was throwing to. I do know Cam has a long release throwing motion which is alarming. But we need some backup plan if our intentions are JG or a draft pick. We need this to attract any WR’s and TE’s in FA. If anyone thinks that FA’s would be more enticed to come here with Mariotta or MT at QB then you have way more blind fate than me.. There teams dumped them because they have flaws and they would cost a heck of a lot more.
We are in a bind at QB right now. 5 million to bridge this gap and possibly use Cam as a backup at that cost is fine by me. He could be used in game on short yardage and goal line situations.
If JG does not come available then trade up in the draft. In the meantime lets gather some talent with the cap space we have.

You could grab a guy off the street in July who would be as good or better. There is no value at all in bringing this guy back.
Edit: just reread your post. Newton wasn’t signed to be the backup. This is his team.

 

[venecol]

Belichick has never needed a franchise quarterback.

So, any discussion of past history of trading up or down is irrelevant.

Nonsense. Belichick has needed other players or has gone after BAP. Is a QB not a player? What was Jimmy G if not a franchise player? His draft history is obviously relevant.

Anyway, what makes you believe Belichick thinks any of these QBs (aside from Lawrence) are franchise QBs? There are several 1st round QBs available that didn't work out (Winston, Trubisky, Bortles) and others that are back-ups (Mariota, Haskins. Rosen) or questionable (Darnold, Jones, Wentz). Moving up to get a QB-1 is very risky.

Again, it's more likely he trades #15 down or picks a defensive player with it, based on "history."