Patriots: Matt Judon comments don’t rule out Cam Newton losing starting job

The New England Patriots have deemed that winning just seven games is not an acceptable tally for this franchise, and they have chosen to address that problem head-on by bringing back Cam Newton to be their quarterback as well as signing a boatload of talented free agents, including former Baltimore Ravens pass rusher Matthew Judon. 

However, the Patriots didn’t completely mortgage the future in order to bring in this collection of talent, as they drafted a player who they believe can be their starting quarterback for a decade or longer in Alabama’s Mac Jones.

Considering Newton threw more interceptions than touchdown passes last year, his time as a starter is ticking.

The question is not if the Patriots will transition to Jones as the starter, it’s when. Could it come as early as this year?

Based on Judon’s comments on Good Morning Football, it sounds like both he and Newton know that the former MVP needs to turn back the clock and start playing well in order to squash the Jones buzz.

Judon claims that Newton is “not new” to fighting for a starting job or the machinations of the NFL, adding that if Newton is not playing up to the standard expected, a change will be made. Judon did say, however, he believes Newton will succeed as the starter this year.

How long will Cam Newton start for the Patriots?

Newton might’ve made a huge impact on the ground, and he can lean on the excuse of substandard wide receiver talent, but he was benched during poor performances last season, as his injury history finally seemed to start sapping his arm talent.

Newton doesn’t seem to be too concerned about the whole situation, though. The positive veteran lauded the selection of Jones as “the right pick” while claiming that the competition should be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Newton might seem like he’s content with his situation, but this season is the final straw as far as his status as a starter is concerned. If Jones has to come in during the middle of the campaign, Newton will head into the 2022 offseason as a 33-year-old fresh off being benched with multiple significant injuries. Does that sound like a starter to you?

Like it or not, Jones will eventually be the starter in New England. He’s too darn accurate of a thrower to sit on the bench for years. However, he might need some time to transition from a more basic Steve Sarkisian offensive attack to Josh McDaniels’ complex system.

Newton should be able to take advantage of that learning period by meshing with the new pass-catchers and getting New England back into the postseason picture. If he fails to do so, however, it seems even some players on the Patriots roster believe Jones will be trotting out onto the field as a starter.

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