![]() ![]() ![]() "You go into a game and then Sunday morning you wake up, and your quarterback isn't eligible? That's not something that Bill Belichick can or will or would ever willingly sign up for. "The Patriots learned a hard lesson that given the protocols and everything, and given that the numbers and the cases seem to be going the wrong way, having a quarterback that's not fully vaccinated could cost them," Hurley said. It was a combination of at least three, I'm told: Mac Jones' emergence, Newton's vaccination stance (which caused a bit of a stir behind the scenes) and Cam's uninspiring performance this summer.- Adam Beasley August 31, 2021ĬBS Boston's Michael Hurley also said the possibility of losing their starting quarterback during the season due to COVID protocols made Jones a safer alternative. There wasn't just one reason that Cam Newton is gone. Personnel who are not fully vaccinated must undergo testing through the NFL's approved lab every day, and they face travel restrictions. Fully vaccinated players are only tested once every 14 days, and they don't face travel restrictions. While Newton said earlier this summer that he didn't care to share his vaccination status, his absence indicated that he is not fully vaccinated. The team approved the visit, but according to Burton, Newton left Foxboro without being tested, which violated protocol. WBZ-TV Sports Director Steve Burton said his understanding of what led up to Newton's COVID violation is that the veteran quarterback went to Atlanta to have a doctor check on an ankle injury, and also wanted to see his children. On Tuesday, Belichick shocked the football world when he released Newton and handed the job to the rookie Jones. In that practice, Mac Jones thrived while taking all of the first team reps. The quarterback had traveled to a team-approved medical appointment and tested negative each day he was gone, but did not satisfy the NFL's policy.Īs a result, he missed three practices, including a critical joint session against the New York Giants. List Patriots 53-man roster projection: 3 QBs is a necessity.Newton was forced to be away from the team for five days due to what the team called a misunderstanding of league's COVID protocols. Newton’s absence is a tremendous opportunity for Jones, who is surely looking to supplant Newton before Week 1. Cam will continue participating virtually in team activities and return to the club facility on Thursday, August 26.” “Due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities, and as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, Cam will be subject to the five-day entry cadence process before returning to the facility. He received daily Covid tests, which were all negative,” the Patriots wrote Monday in a statement. “On Saturday, Cam Newton traveled to a Club-approved medical appointment that required him to leave the New England area. New England released the following statement after Newton’s absence from practice on Monday. Ryan Tannehill and Sam Darnold were hesitant but are now vaccinated. The list of pro-vaccine quarterbacks includes Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, Matt Ryan, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Ryan Fitzpatrick. “Every team’s got the same situation,” he said. Would it put you at a disadvantage if your QB was not vaccinated? “Every team is dealing with the same situation,” Belichick said. A reporter, however, pointed out that it’s different than last year, because of the presence of the vaccine. “We’ll be compliant with them.”īelichick said it was “similar to what it was last year,” with players potentially missing time due to COVID-19. “The league rules are the league rules,” he said. He was asked whether unvaccinated might be treated differently in New England because their availability might be different from vaccinated players. The team practices today and then with the NYG tomorrow b4 Newton can return.īill Belichick was unwilling to address the situation. One important member of the organization believes this has "opened" a window of opportunity for rookie Mac Jones. Per sources, there is a level of frustration internally with the Cam Newton situation. The rookie QB got his largest exposure to New England’s No. Newton’s absence has created an opportunity for Mac Jones, who got an enormous amount of reps during Monday’s practice session without Newton. Newton, the Patriots’ starting quarterback, will miss five days of work with New England and is eligible to return Thursday for the team’s second of two joint practices with the New York Giants ahead of a Week 3 preseason matchup on Sunday, the final game before the regular season. Members of the New England Patriots are frustrated with quarterback Cam Newton in the wake of his accidental violation of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, according to NFL Network’s Mike Giardi. ![]()
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