50-yard-line
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2013
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I will agree just based on the fact that Bill is in love with Cam otherwise if your 1st round rookie is really close to your transition QB you play the rookie. Why lose a year when he is already at your starting QB level? If you are afraid to play your 1st round QB because you are afraid that he can’t handle it then you are already in trouble.
I think BB respects that Newton, for all his performance troubles, never blamed anyone else, took it all on himself, and got the respect fo the other players on the team. That matters. If he was "in love" with Cam, he'd have signed him for more than a back-up/prove it type of deal. Newton is a seasoned vet with a good attitude. BB respects that.
It's also not about being afraid to play Jones as much as it's been a notable reality around the NFL for a long time that guys who get thrown in early often never meet their promise (Darnold is the latest example). Wilson is the exception.
Mahomes and Rodgers got the time to acclimate to the realities of the NFL, and if you listen to a lot of ex-QBs, like Pennington, they say that breaking in slowly at that position is a much better situation for the rookie QB going forward.