As far-fetched as it seems, having the COVID vaccination or not having it could determine who wins the starting QB job for the Patriots.\u00a0 The unfortunate violation of the agreed-to protocol between the league and the Players Union has left Cam Newton on the outside looking in at the meetings virtually.\u00a0 He cannot participate in any practices for five days, and after a clean test.<\/p>\n
Newton had a medical appointment out of state and away from the Patriots facility, which required Newton to be tested daily.\u00a0 Newton did get tested every day, but not at an approved facility which is a violation. \u00a0\u00a0The fact that he had to get tested every day is a direct confirmation that Newton has not been vaccinated.<\/p>\n
This will give Mac Jones an opportunity he wouldn\u2019t have had, to run the 1st<\/sup> team offense against the 1st<\/sup> team Defense.\u00a0 We are going to see just how good Jones is and how far he has progressed.\u00a0 Jones will also be the starter against the NY Giants on the 1st<\/sup> day of joint practices.\u00a0 The Patriots coaches will also get an opportunity to evaluate Jones against the Giants 1st<\/sup> team defense.<\/p>\n Can the Patriots afford to have a starting QB that has not been vaccinated?\u00a0 Last season, Cam Newton was rolling along and looking good until he was felled by the COVID virus.\u00a0 He missed only one game, but he was never the same after the illness.\u00a0 Could Newton be a spreader of the virus because he is not vaccinated?\u00a0 To his credit, Newton was following the team rules and did get tested (all negative).\u00a0 It would be a shame to lose the starter’s job because the team can\u2019t trust an un-vaccinated player at the all-important position of Quarterback?<\/p>\n Get the Vaccination<\/strong> –\u00a0 Why is Newton not vaccinated?\u00a0 A personal choice?\u00a0 That\u2019s a bit selfish as far as I am concerned.\u00a0 His own personal views are more important than the greater good of the team!\u00a0 I am sure that goes over well with Bill Belichick.\u00a0 The Phizer vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA.\u00a0 Of those that have not been vaccinated, 30% state the reason is that it was experimental and not fully vetted.\u00a0 That\u2019s not true anymore.<\/p>\n Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater have produced a video for the team urging them to get vaccinated.\u00a0 The wives of both players are Doctors.\u00a0 Michelle Powell, McCourty\u2019s wife is an Emergency Room MD, and Shahrzad Ehdaivand, Slater\u2019s wife is a Pathologist. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Would Newton be so selfish that he would threaten his teammate\u2019s livelihood by putting their paychecks at risk if a COVID spread should cause a postponement?\u00a0 That\u2019s the punishment the league has stated if they have to postpone a game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As far-fetched as it seems, having the COVID vaccination or not having it could determine who wins the starting QB job for the Patriots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":33891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-commentary"],"yoast_head":"\n