Just a few initial thoughts after just hearing about this a few minutes ago, and not having the patience to read 13+ pages.
1. For the record, I wasn't very keen on signing Newton when the idea was first brought up a few months ago. I was willing to take a possible beating for a year to see if Stidham was the guy or not, and thought ANY veteran QB would take away valuable snaps from him in TC.
2. But that was before I saw how the contract was being presented. This has ZERO downside. I guess after about 4 months of not getting much interest, Newton decided his best option was to go to the Pats on a minimum contract plus incentives and look for a "patriots bump" that a lot players have seen after coming here.
3. I know this might ****** Stidham's development, but he's STILL just a baby and Jimmy sat behind Tom for 2 full seasons before he got his 5 quarters to sell himself in his 3rd season and didn't play more than 6 games until his 6th.
4. From what I've heard, Cam has not been guaranteed a starting job, so he knows he has to come in and WIN his position.
5. It will be important to see how Stidham reacts to this new development. He has gone from presumptive starter to having to fight for a starting job against a former league MVP. He has the advantage of a year in both the system, but more importantly with the language and terminology.
6. Further, the fact that he would put himself out there on a pure prove it deal, makes me think that Cam is SUPER motivated to prove that he can still be, not just a starter, but an elite QB in the NFL.
7. The guy has taken a horrid beating over the last few years, and his stats over the last 8 games put him at the bottom of the league's QB's. He might just be 31, but he's an old 31.
8. Who know's. Maybe what he needs is a year sitting behind Stidham to get himself healthy and work out his mechanics with one of the best QB coaches in the league. We shall see.
9. All I know now is that there are a lot of pissed off fans in NJ, Buffalo, and Miami.