Patriots: New England likely lied to Cam Newton about cap space

The Patriots knew exactly what they were doing when they told Cam Newton they were out of cap space.

The Patriots received a windfall of cash this weekend, just over a week after agreeing with Cam Newton, and a few days after officially announcing the signing.

But is that really the official timeline?

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio asserts that those in NFL circles who “know how the sausage gets made” are very aware that the Patriots knew they’d win their grievances for Antonio Brown and Aaron Hernandez money back when they were negotiating with Newton. They couldn’t, however, tell Newton that.

Bill Belichick and the Patriots needed Newton to agree to the ultimate prove-it deal, and in order to get him to do so, they also had to manufacture the idea that such a contract was the most they could possibly offer him. It wasn’t, and they likely knew that.

The Patriots are the Patriots because they can control the NFL’s narrative.

Now, coincidentally, days later, the Patriots have $7 million in wiggle room to improve Newton’s weaponry. If they’d had the money a week ago, that would not be the case, because Newton’s camp would’ve demanded it. There can be very little doubt the Pats pulled the right strings in league circles to get the results of these grievances announced at the perfect time.

PS — if you think New England going to use their newfound Antonio Brown grievance-inspired cap space to…sign Antonio Brown, you’re insane.

There are several moves the Patriots can make now that they couldn’t have a week ago, though, which is exactly the way Bill Belichick likes it.

Even though a union with Newton made nothing but sense all summer long, New England waited and got Cam’s camp to agree to the lowest possible total. They seemed more than willing to mess with Jarrett Stidham…until they weren’t. They also created the illusion of cash-poorness to drive Newton to his limit…and then, suddenly, there was a bit of cash.

The NFL is always a bigger picture than you realize at first. Every indication is the Patriots had their finger on all buttons involved here.