Source: Pats have NOT ruled out bringing Cam back in 2021

PScottman said:

This is simply to help Cam..."...there remains a market for him". For every vet player cut a "year early", there are also those that have been good soldiers that BB will assist in little ways like this - whether an early cut in camp to get with another team or continuing to make it look like there's some demand for a player to drive up negotiation price. Free agency isn't just money and location - there are other factors too - much lesser in the decision process, but still relevant.

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This was a thought of mine too and my hope. It not only helps cam it helps us too as a better contract elsewhere factors well into the compensation pick formula.

203Pat said:

Uh oh...

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It's exactly what I thought from watching. A guy who can't throw very well being asked to run the Brady offense. Didn't work very well. Why didn't McDaniels change it?

sb1 said:

It's exactly what I thought from watching. A guy who can't throw very well being asked to run the Brady offense. Didn't work very well. Why didn't McDaniels change it?

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That sounds like a lot of excuse-making from Cam and he was in the system for 16 games plus 5 weeks. How complicated can it be that you can't pick it up in that amount of time. If my boss sent me to get training on something for 5 weeks and I came back and said I didn't have enough time, he'd fire me.

archstanton543 said:

That sounds like a lot of excuse-making from Cam and he was in the system for 16 games plus 5 weeks. How complicated can it be that you can't pick it up in that amount of time. If my boss sent me to get training on something for 5 weeks and I came back and said I didn't have enough time, he'd fire me.

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And yet several players have said NE's system is complicated as hell compared to other teams. He also had to learn the system without testing plays in any pre-season game. And he had to miss one game when he caught covid.

New England Patriots Single-Season Passing Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com (pro-football-reference.com)

Cam's 8 TD passes for the season ties him for 57th place all time in the Patriots all time single season leaderboard for TD passes.

Yeah gimme more of that next year!

sb1 said:

New England Patriots Single-Season Passing Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com (pro-football-reference.com)

Cam's 8 TD passes for the season ties him for 57th place all time in the Patriots all time single season leaderboard for TD passes.

Yeah gimme more of that next year!

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8 td passes over 15 games is abysmal. It's why I don't necessarily buy the argument from some it was all the weapons.

I mean ok, brady went from 25-40 tds going from our garbage to probably the best skill position in the NFL. What is cams ceiling here. 20 tds?

Cams problem is he couldn't get guys the ball even when they were open

PScottman said:

This is simply to help Cam..."...there remains a market for him". For every vet player cut a "year early", there are also those that have been good soldiers that BB will assist in little ways like this - whether an early cut in camp to get with another team or continuing to make it look like there's some demand for a player to drive up negotiation price. Free agency isn't just money and location - there are other factors too - much lesser in the decision process, but still relevant.

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He was so bad this year, I don't even think "bidding war" is in Cam's offseason future.

Thanks for the laughs.

What would anyone gain by ruling something out ahead of time ? At this point teams don't even know where the salary cap will be set at.

When we get closer to combine time they will get have a lay of the land and know what QBs will be available for a decent price. Trades are unpredictable and can fall apart pretty quickly. Similarly, there really is not a single QB in FA that would represent a substantial upgrade on Newton so depending on asking price and interest it might actually make sense to go into the season with him as vet QB.

Given the words that were spoken by him in the last few days it seems like a low probability situation, but if some offers don't work out those odds can shift in an instant.

We won't know until the second week of March either way. Everything until then is pure speculation..

luuked said:

When we get closer to combine time they will get have a lay of the land and know what QBs will be available for a decent price. Trades are unpredictable and can fall apart pretty quickly. Similarly, there really is not a single QB in FA that would represent a substantial upgrade on Newton so depending on asking price and interest it might actually make sense to go into the season with him as vet QB.

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If they can throw more than 8 TD's they'll be a substantial upgrade over Cam.

From what i saw it wasn't the system, it was lack of accuracy and pocket awareness starting after he came back from quarentine

Cam newtons career honestly might be finished. Idk if I can see a team even wanting him as a backup. At this point you have to scheme the offense around his lack of throwing ability

But it happens with running QBs. Look at vick, kapernick etc. The same will probably happen eventually to laamar jackson if he doesn't improve his throwing. These guys take hits like running backs and once their athleticism goes a little bit teams can play them differently

Whitt25 said:

Harris is still unproven and Michel hasn't looked as good as he did his rookie year. I felt like he ran harder, had more burst and power.

Edit: No way in hell is Meyers a WR2. lol. I know he's out there grinding, but no.

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I disagree with you on Harris. You're right about Michel (he hasn't looked as good since his rookie year), though he looks to be a very capable RB2.

As for Meyers, his ceiling is TBD. He did just put up nearly 750 yards with the worst starting QB in the league, despite not seeing many snaps at the beginning of the year. Based on what we've seen he certainly has the potential to be a WR2, given adequate QB play and a stronger supporting cast at WR/TE.

sb1 said:

New England Patriots Single-Season Passing Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com (pro-football-reference.com)

Cam's 8 TD passes for the season ties him for 57th place all time in the Patriots all time single season leaderboard for TD passes.

Yeah gimme more of that next year!

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This shows also what a season Matt Cassel had...
Brady and Bledsoe always at the top...

If they do bring home back, hopefully an offseason of studying and a preseason he gets much better. BB seems to like him and his potential.

JackBauer said:

I disagree with you on Harris. You're right about Michel (he hasn't looked as good since his rookie year), though he looks to be a very capable RB2.

As for Meyers, his ceiling is TBD. He did just put up nearly 750 yards with the worst starting QB in the league. Based on what we've seen he certainly has the potential to be a WR2, given adequate QB play and a stronger supporting cast at WR/TE.

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Why would you disagree on Harris? This is the first season he's gotten a chance to really do anything in the regular season. That's why I said he's unproven. Come on, bruh. And Michel was meant to be a RB1, not a RB2. That's why he's been a disappointment.

Meyers only put up yards 'cause Cam barely had anyone else to throw to. He doesn't reach 700 if Edelman and Burkhead don't get injured. He's a WR4, barely a WR3.

And I'm going to hold on to my opinion that Cam only looks like the worst starting QB in the league because his supporting cast is awful. Bottom-of-the barrel-scraping-for-crumbs talent at WR and TE.

PatriotSpy said:

"bidding war"

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I love the hyperbole level people take things to that are never said. If you're leaving your job, were a decent employee, but also realize that you have to put that position on your resume - do you want the previous employer to say "he sucks" if contacted or something more along the lines of "he was a good worker for us"? In Cam's case - he was a good leader, put in the extra time, he just couldn't produce on the field.

How much would other prospective employees want to work someplace where they're blackballed on the way out the door either?

Cam is going to compete for backup jobs next year - he may not get hired, but he'll compete for them. Burning him out the door does nothing but hurt the Patriots franchise.

let me be clear -- I would take Newton back, but only in a Taysom Hill style role where he platoons with a good pocket passer and takes some snaps as an RB. There are plays Cam just can't make anymore and frankly his decision making skills have never been stellar but as a roleplayer he still has something to offer. That said I don't want him starting for my team. I'd rather roll with Jacoby Brissett.

Whitt25 said:

Why would you disagree on Harris? This is the first season he's gotten a chance to really do anything in the regular season. That's why I said he's unproven. Come on, bruh. And Michel was meant to be a RB1, not a RB2. That's why he's been a disappointment.

Meyers only put up yards 'cause Cam barely had anyone else to throw to. He doesn't reach 700 if Edelman and Burkhead don't get injured. He's a WR4, barely a WR3.

And I'm going to hold on to my opinion that Cam only looks like the worst starting QB in the league because his supporting cast is awful. Bottom-of-the barrel-scraping-for-crumbs talent at WR and TE.

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Not going to deny his supporting cast is awful. But what is cam newtons ceiling with quality wide receivers and tight ends?

Guy had 8 td passes total. You think he's gonna throw 27 tds? A net increase of 20? Brady only increased his passing tds by 15 and that's with the best supporting cast in the NFL.

archstanton543 said:

That sounds like a lot of excuse-making from Cam and he was in the system for 16 games plus 5 weeks. How complicated can it be that you can't pick it up in that amount of time. If my boss sent me to get training on something for 5 weeks and I came back and said I didn't have enough time, he'd fire me.

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What are the differences between algebra, geometry, and trigonometry? Why is it some minds can grasp one study but not another? The Pats system is in a different language than what players like Cam can read. He had a hard time just reading the language let alone having it become second nature. This is not a fault or Cam or a criticism that he cannot learn the system. Yet again, maybe he can't. He really did try. If your boss gave you five weeks to learn Mandarin, you would now get how Cam feels. Your comparison is silly. There are plenty vets who come to NE and say they just cannot get they system.

203Pat said:

Uh oh...

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Brady knows about winning.

Cam knows about whining.