I think they are competing for the job and the winner will be subject to being replaced by his backup, since both have high failure potential. I don’t think anyone is going anywhere.
Newton was not given a promise he would start, and bb will do what’s best for the team. Newton can go elsewhere next season if he wishes.
Belichick shows respect and deference to veterans who are going to make the team, he won’t cut loose a guy who would be backing up a qb playing for the first time in the nfl, and newton wouldn’t have any better options any way.
There were zero reports of any other team even speaking with him to my knowledge so making up that there were other offers is just that and doesn’t really work as a fact to support your conclusion.
We'll see I guess. But to me, the contract is a giveaway. As a backup in New England, Newton would make less money than Hoyer.
There's always opportunities in the NFL. Derek Anderson signed with the Bills for the veteran minimum during the 2018 season, and started against the Pats. There's another team that will have the same issue this year, especially if COVID sidelines a few starting QBs. Newton is no Kaeperkick, he would have received a call sometimes.
Your view of Belichick is not the same as mine; he let Reggie Wayne keep his signing bonus, even though that didn't make the Pats better. He traded Gronkowski so he could resume his career elsewhere, and the 4th round pick he received probably won't make the Pats a better team than having a limited Gronk for 1 or 2 more years.
If Belichick feels Stidham is the right QB for the job, he'll go with the growing pains, he's not going to change his decision after 3 games. Not sure why Newton would want to stay, knowing it would delay another big payday by at least a year, and not sure why Belichick would want to keep a former MVP on board, knowing fans will ask for Stidham to be benched whenever he throws an INT. And if Stidham suffers an injury, Newton can always be re-signed if, as you stated, nobody else wants him.
Anyways, if Cam wins the starting job, all of this is a moot point.