who's going to be the starter?

bigballas said:

am pretty sure that the statement implies Stidham has zero chance to start the season as the starter.

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They're both on the Pats though. I'd like to know what the implication is for 30% of Pats fans thinking Stid will get the job.

IMO I think Cam is the week 1 starter and Stid steps in upon injury or suckage

I love all the "Cam didn't sign in NE not to be the starter" talk...

The guy had zero options, nobody wanted him.

Not early on for the money he wanted, and later on all the teams had their QB's. He is coming off two surgeries in the same throwing shoulder and a lisfranc foot surgery.

He was smart to go to New England, go to the best team, protect his health and surround himself in the best situation possible. It will be an open competition for the starting QB job. Nobody knows how Stidham will react to the bright lights, but just like before they acquired Cam there's a possibility he is really good.

If Stidham does end up starting, I hope Cam accepts that role and sticks with it for a season. This provides good depth at the QB position.

I want the pats to have a Qb that can take them deep into the playoffs this year. I thought it would be with the stid, a solid run game and a stout defense. It still might be. Cam provides more options for that offense if he’s healthy. Either way, I still want a qb to take the pats deep into the playoffs...

Short answer: Cam.

Long answer: OK, we know Hoyer isn't starting...J'Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke aren't starting either (although, I think Smith could be interesting on the PS). So, the competition is really between Newton and Stidham, here's the tale of the tape:

Size: Edge to Cam.
Speed: Edge to Cam.
Experience: Edge to Cam - 9 years in the league vs. 4 live NFL passes.
Play-off experience: Edge to Cam - 7 games including a Superbowl vs. none.
System knowledge: Edge to Stidham - Stidham has been learning the offense for 15 months now.
Health: Edge to Stidham right now.....
Personnel knowledge: Edge to Stidham - Knows Meyers, worked out with Harry, practiced vs. Pats D, etc...

So, basically...if Cam is healthy like he was in early 2018...he only needs to learn the playbook, get to know his teammates, familiarize himself with the AFC, and etc...no reason he shouldn't be the week 1 starter. Football is a production based business, if Stidham wants to start...he really needs to blow people away in camp...which will be harder with 2 pre-season games ...maybe none right now.

A Defiant Goose said:

They're both on the Pats though. I'd like to know what the implication is for 30% of Pats fans thinking Stid will get the job.

IMO I think Cam is the week 1 starter and Stid steps in upon injury or suckage

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ah gotcha...that's a totally loaded question.

Ive thought of that same question (as well as many other similar scenario's us Pats Fans like to torture ourselves with)

I think a lot of is cultural with the organizations "manifesto" over the last two decades. we have had so much success that we like to attribute and engrain that to our culture, the "patriots way".

Our heros have typically been the unheralded non blue chip player (brady, edelman, even gronk). we dont make splashes in big names etc (we have). so we've gotten used to the the you may be stronger but we're smarter and we can do more with less. we feel entitled when the player gets bigger than the organization, we turn on players that leave (im guiltily too, F welker) and want to sustain the principle that the organization has been the key over any player.

so when we knew Brady was at the "end" (or so we thought), we wanted Jimmy...now we want Stidham. We don't want to rely on a player to come in and save us (unless its AB)

i dont know..that my best guess on why we (some of us) convince ourselves Stidham is the new Goat, F Brady, etc.

im team brady, im hoping Cam goes wild and of course, 100% GO PATS.

A Defiant Goose said:

They're both on the Pats though. I'd like to know what the implication is for 30% of Pats fans thinking Stid will get the job.

IMO I think Cam is the week 1 starter and Stid steps in upon injury or suckage

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My vote was Stidham. I just don’t think NE wins the SB with Cam. Don’t believe BB’s goal is 8-8, 9-7 or even - if lucky - 10-6 and a first round loss.

So, I’d rather they see what they have in Stidham. If he isn’t the answer, then BB tries to find the player that’ll lead them to the championship.

bigballas said:

ah gotcha...that's a totally loaded question.

Ive thought of that same question (as well as many other similar scenario's us Pats Fans like to torture ourselves with)

I think a lot of is cultural with the organizations "manifesto" over the last two decades. we have had so much success that we like to attribute and engrain that to our culture, the "patriots way".

Our heros have typically been the unheralded non blue chip player (brady, edelman, even gronk). we dont make splashes in big names etc (we have). so we've gotten used to the the you may be stronger but we're smarter and we can do more with less. we feel entitled when the player gets bigger than the organization, we turn on players that leave (im guiltily too, F welker) and want to sustain the principle that the organization has been the key over any player.

so when we knew Brady was at the "end" (or so we thought), we wanted Jimmy...now we want Stidham. We don't want to rely on a player to come in and save us (unless its AB)

i dont know..that my best guess on why we (some of us) convince ourselves Stidham is the new Goat, F Brady, etc.

im team brady, im hoping Cam goes wild and of course, 100% GO PATS.

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I think you hit it right on the head. I would rather win with Stidham because he's "our" guy "born and raised" a Patriot. If the roles were reversed I'd want it to be Newton. Not to mention the possible dark horse J'Mar Smith that everyone raves about. That's why I would prefer it to be Stidham or Smith. If it's Newton though I'll be right behind him all the way

Depends on which domino falls first.

If there is a season Newton will be the starter. And that’s not a knock on Stidham, Newton simply has much more experience in the NFL and its really hard to see how Stidham beats him out in this situation.

People tend to forget that Cam Newton was the MVP of the league 5 years ago. If he can stay healthy, he wins the starting QB job.

Stidham has his work cut out for him. But he's young, it won't hurt him to hold the clipboard another year.

Michael Bishop

Heart wants Stidham, head says Newton.

Redman443 said:

..

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I’m not sure quite why/what Stidham did wrong within past several weeks or what BB didn’t like .....but I expect Cam to “win competition” and start season......not sure he will end it as #1 QB.....and there is still significant chance that Stidham will be your starter during season!!!

scott99 said:

Rooting for Stidham to show the world he's a good QB. If Newton wins the job, will be rooting like hell for Cam.

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Scott have to admit that I agree with you a lot...good post

Cam was playing his best ball just 2 years ago until he hurt his shoulder. I don't think we will see 2015 Cam but I do expect a return to (or close to) pre-shoulder injury Cam of 2018.

If that is the case, no question Cam is starter.

No knock on Stidham.

TheRazorsEdge said:

Cam was playing his best ball just 2 years ago until he hurt his shoulder. I don't think we will see 2015 Cam but I do expect a return to (or close to) pre-shoulder injury Cam of 2018.

If that is the case, no question Cam is starter.

No knock on Stidham.

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I don't get why people are so fixated on his MVP from 2015 but are ignoring that he looked absolutely terrific in 2018 before Watt blew up that shoulder. And he was doing it in a more sustainable way without playing Superman all the time.

If he is healthy those 8 games are what should be used to project how well he'd work in a McDaniels offense and not games from 5-6 years ago.

Obviously week 1 starter is what matters but I think an equally interesting question is who will get the first snaps of camp?


If healthy it's easy to assume Cam as week 1 starter but how does BB play it in camp? I could easily see Bill giving Hoyer 1st snaps can't make it easy for Cam or the Kid and give the 1st snaps to the guy with the most practice reps under BB already.

signbabybrady said:

Obviously week 1 starter is what matters but I think an equally interesting question is who will get the first snaps of camp?


If healthy it's easy to assume Cam as week 1 starter but how does BB play it in camp? I could easily see Bill giving Hoyer 1st snaps can't make it easy for Cam or the Kid and give the 1st snaps to the guy with the most practice reps under BB already.

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I think that a natural order will emerge within 3-4 days of practice. The telling thing will be who will get most first team snaps after a week or so.

Whether it was a long term decision to go with Stidham or not, Cam was available forever and the Pats still liked Stidham better. I think this was more of a value signing than anything else. Pick up another QB at league minimum who might have something left. Why couldn't you pick up a value signing at QB like any other position?

Based on that, I still say the expectation for the Pats going in is that Stidham will start, but anyone on the roster will have the opportunity to beat him.

Cam will start.

But we won't see him stick around in games where the Patriots are up big like we saw with Brady. I expect Stid to still get a bunch of snaps.