Patriots: Jarrett Stidham’s response to Cam Newton’s arrival proves he won’t back down
By Jerry Trotta
Patriots QB Jarrett Stidham is proving that the Cam Newton signing hasn’t rattled him.
For the first time in his NFL career, Cam Newton will enter training camp with a legitimate quarterback competition in front of him — or, at least that’s what the Patriots want us to think. So long as the 31-year-old superstar proves that he’s healthy, he should be under center once Week 1 of the 2020 season rolls around in September, with significant performance incentives on his docket.
Newton’s arrival in New England must have been a tough pill to swallow for Jarrett Stidham, who was projected to be the starter up until that bombshell was dropped. However, the latest buzz out of Foxborough suggests that the 23-year-old isn’t going down without a fight.
According to ESPN reporter Mike Reiss, Stidham has been holding his own workouts with teammates in Massachusetts, throwing to wide receivers Mohamed Sanu and Gunner Olszewski, running back Damien Harris, as well as rookie tight end Dalton Keene, among others.
Stidham and Brian Hoyer have taken over the team facility, whereas Newton is still in California with a smaller group of Patriots. Yes, Stiddy does seem to think he has the inside track.
Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the Patriots and NFL (dueling throwing sessions preview QB battle; Joe Thuney’s franchise tag; when will things get competitive in training camp?; linking Derrick Henry, Corey Dillon and Mike Vrabel; Patriots and MVPs etc.) https://t.co/EsXvkXSUT7
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 19, 2020
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Stidham has a leg up on Newton in actuality. We’ve all seen the clips of the former MVP throwing darts to Sanu and 2019 first-rounder N’Keal Harry last week. Newton even reportedly began studying the Patriots playbook while the ink of his signature on his contract was still drying.
However, New England’s coaching staff will surely be pleased to hear of the leadership Stidham is showcasing after the franchise essentially signed a player to one-up him late in the offseason.
Looks like Mohamed Sanu is putting in work with Jarrett Stidham. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/nUnAVXCMGR
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) July 13, 2020
Even if Stidham ends up losing out to Newton, him organizing drills with his teammates proves that, if ever given the chance, he has the perfect mentality to thrive under head coach Bill Belichick.
Next. Winners and Loser of Cam Newton Signing. dark
That’s really all Patriots fans could ask for from the 2019 fourth-round pick.