So I guess bill didn't actually believe in Stidham.

[Simpelton]

I shouldn't be as surprised as I am. It was a negotiating position move from day 1.

That said, Newton is literally the single least reliable starting caliber QB that exists, with the possible exception of Ryan Fitzpatrick, so we might see Stidham after all, we'll see.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

He might believe in him, but just not as a starter til 2021.

 

[Wozzy]

Stidham still starts IMO.

 

[Betterthanmost]

I think the Pandemic had everything to do with this signing. If they could even hold player only practice, I doubt this signing will have happened. Stidham's chances are greatly hurt by COVID. I wish him The best, but his football life kinda sucks from FNF to Baylor and then bad o-line in his final year at Auburn. Kid needs a break.

 

[IllegalContact]

Stidham will be ready, but cam will start week 1

if there is a week 1

 

[Brandon_Cox]

He might believe in him, but just not as a starter til 2021.

This. Giving Stid the Kid another year to develop

 

[scott99]

I’m shocked by the Cam signing. If they didn’t believe in Stidham, why not draft a QB in the 1st round ?

 

[Huckleberry1]

All this does is to push Stidham, which will make him better. And I think Belichick feels he has enough to work with the rest of the team to be a contender, and the Newton signing gives them a ceiling that is higher than Stidham at this point.

 

[mgteich]

Perhaps, Bill doesn't believe in Stidham as a 2020 starter with no completion and backup. Bill simply needs to see is Cam is healthy. If so, he is a welcome addition. If not, the cost will be small.

 

[patsinthesnow]

1. He didn’t draft a QB

2. He signed a QB to near vet min in late June

 

[Bonzo]

The goat himself was not QB #1 in year two. And as has been well-documented, it obviously had nothing to do with them not believing in him.

But look, if Stidham beats out a 31yo former MVP, then all 8 billion people on earth should believe in him.

 

[jah]

I’m shocked by the Cam signing. If they didn’t believe in Stidham, why not draft a QB in the 1st round ?

Which QB? Even Herbert, who would have been a terrible pick at #23 or whatever we had, went in the top 10. The only two who have any actual potential went top 5.

Bad teams stay bad because they take a QB round 1 because they think they need to. Good teams wait for the right value. I don't know if Newton is the right value, or Stidham, or neither. But both were low cost options who at least have potential to be average or even more.

 

[TheRainMaker]

This was obvious and I saw the Pats pursuing Newton from a mile away.

 

[lusdawg]

Political signing forced upon BB by Kraft to squelch the league wanting a first round pick for that camera BS. My guess...

 

[lancerman]

This was obvious and I saw the Pats pursuing Newton from a mile away.

Same here. Typical Belichick signing. A guy who had some injury problems that didn’t have a spot on his old team due to circumstance, historically gave Bill trouble in games they played against each other, due to the market ended up becoming a tremendous value who wants to take a prove it deal.

It was blindingly obvious. There was no reason not to sign him

 

[Wozzy]

Buy low/sell high

 

[JPsPats]

Bringing in competition for the most important position on a football team doesn’t mean you don’t believe in someone.

Competition brings out the best in you. This could make Stidham better in the long run, even if Newton beats him out for the starting job in 2020.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Which QB? Even Herbert, who would have been a terrible pick at #23 or whatever we had, went in the top 10. The only two who have any actual potential went top 5.

This. A player drafted at 23 would have a bigger signing bonus than Stidham's entire rookie contract.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

This was the biggest no brainer to do. High potential low cost. The only concern I have is the low tolerance level in the region for any verbal or on-field misstep for this starting black QB in Boston

.

 

[Delicate Genius]

Political signing forced upon BB by Kraft to squelch the league wanting a first round pick for that camera BS. My guess...

What is political about signing Cam Newton?