Cam Newton, Patriots Are A Great Fit In 2020, According To Former New England Star

The New England Patriots don’t appear interested in signing Cam Newton. That’s a mistake, according to a player that won two Super Bowls with the organization.

Second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham is in line to be New England’s starter for the 2020 NFL season. Former Patriots safety and NBC analyst Rodney Harrison believes Newton would be a good addition to New England in the wake of losing Tom Brady.

“I thought it would be a great situation where he could have came in at a reduced salary,” Harrison said on “The Rich Eisen Show” this week. “He could have came in and really learned a lot about just technique and just the intricacies of being on a really great football team with great guidance as far as the head coach and offensive coordinator. I thought that would have been a really, really ideal situation for him. He could have came in, competed. Could have helped the young guy (Stidham,) and could have helped to push him. I thought it would have been a perfect situation. I’m just a little disappointed that the Patriots weren’t a little bit more aggressive just recruiting Cam.”

Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, ending his 20-year stint in New England. Newton was released by the Carolina Panthers a week later, having spent his entire nine-year career with one team.

The Patriots were once the betting favorites to acquire Newton. The quarterback has been to the playoffs in three separate seasons, including a trip to Super Bowl 50 when he was the 2015 NFL MVP. New England remains one of the top playoff candidates in the AFC after boasting the league’s No.1 defense in 2019.

Newton only played two games last year because of a season-ending foot injury. Before a shoulder injury ended his 2018 season, Newton had 3,395 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 488 rushing yards and a 94.2 passer rating in 14 games.

More than two months after being released, Newton has no clear landing spot.

“I think the best thing for him to do is go into a situation, maybe go become a backup quarterback, learn, get healthy, and then if he gets his opportunity, go out there and shine,” said Harrison, who played in New England from 2003-2008. “But I don’t think he’s going to be a starting quarterback this year in the National Football League.”

Stidham only attempted four passes as a rookie last season when he backed up Brady.